Sarah Lawrence Falls to Mount Saint Vincent

Thanks to Sarah Lawrence Sports Information Director Paul Blascovich for the following:

Following a two-week break, Sarah Lawrence College men's volleyball returned to action to face College of Mount Saint Vincent in a non-conference match at Noyes Court at Campbell Sports Center on Monday. Though the Gryphons rallied to win the third set, Mount Saint Vincent powered through the fourth en route to a 3-1 win.

The opening set remained close until Mount Saint Vincent (6-7) went on a 7-1 rally to turn a 9-8 edge into a 16-9 advantage. Though Sarah Lawrence (2-14) cut the gap to four at 16-12, the Dolphins went on to win nine of the final 12 points in the 25-15 set.

Sarah Lawrence outside hitter Harrison Holmes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Webb School) slammed down five kills in the second set to help the Gryphon offense, but Dolphin Brett Holiday (Stratford, N.J., Sterling) erased the effort with a half-dozen kills of his own. The set saw Mount Saint Vincent win the first seven points and tack on an 8-1 run to lead 21-9. The Gryphons made a short rally, but it was too little, too late in the Dolphins' 25-13 set.

Mount Saint Vincent looked like it would cruise to the victory in the third set when the visitors opened a 5-1 lead and stayed in front until 11-7. The tide turned when Sarah Lawrence went on two four-point streaks, and the Gryphons took their first lead at 15-14. Though Mount Saint Vincent tied the set at 18-18, Sarah Lawrence went ahead and narrowly held on in the 25-23 set.

The Dolphins refocused in the fourth set and quickly jumped out to a 6-2 lead. The Gryphons scored four unanswered to level the score at 7-7, but Mount Saint Vincent promptly went on a 14-4 streak to lead 21-11. In the end, three-straight Dolphin points clinched the 25-14 set and the match.

Sarah Lawrence's Holmes led all players with 17 kills, adding five digs on defense. Libero Riley Smith (West Linn, Ore., Palo Alto (Calif.)) had a match-high 15 digs for the Gryphons, followed by nine digs by rookie Chris Manfugas (Teaneck, N.J., Teaneck). Setter Brent Terry (Crownpoint, N.M., Idyllwild Arts Academy) provided 26 assists to the Green and White.

For Mount Saint Vincent, Holiday finished with 15 kills, while freshman Dylan Lolli (Sicklerville, N.J., Sterling) totaled 13 kills. Libero Tyler Egan (Laurel Springs, N.J., Sterling) had 12 digs, while front-man Gerard Fraser (Staten Island, N.Y., Tottenville) totaled nine blocks in the match.

Sarah Lawrence returns to action on Wednesday when the Gryphons travel to face Medgar Evers at 8 p.m. The team wraps up its home schedule this weekend with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and a tri-match on Sunday at 11 a.m.