Box score

ALBANY, N.Y. - When Bard faced Skyline Conference rival Sage at the SUNYIT Tournament just 17 days ago, it gave the Raptors an opportunity to send a message about how strongly they felt about defending their 2010 league championship.

Bard delivered, sweeping the match, 3-0, even though it didn't count in the Skyline standings.

On Wednesday night, Sage responded with a message of its own.

In the Skyline Conference opener for both teams, Sage rallied from a set down twice to forth a fifth and deciding set, and Bard prevailed, 3-2. The scores were 25-22, 17-25, 25-23, 20-25 and 15-7.

The match was a far cry from last month's sweep. Bard, which is also a member of the United Volleyball Conference, has been playing top-flight competition so far. Currently five UVC teams are ranked in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 15 poll, and Bard has played two of those teams already, with two more on the horizon.

To gain an automatic bid to the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) tournament, Bard needs to win the Skyline title again. Beating Sage Wednesday night helps that cause, but it wasn't easy.

Freshman opposite Ryan Wilkins (Ballston Lakes, NY) had 13 kills with four blocks, and sophomore setter Kyle Ray (Horseheads, NY) had 39 assists and two aces. The Gators are 2-5 overall, 0-1 in the Skyline Conference.

For Bard (5-6, 1-0 Skyline), junior Nick Chan (Victor, NY) led the way with 26 kills, six digs and three blocks. Chan had a .370 attack percentage. Freshman setter Henry Kasiske (Los Angeles, CA) had 51 assists (.443) and five digs, and junior libero Andrew Cortrite (Los Angeles, CA) collected 35 digs.

The Raptors next play Brooklyn College on Saturday at 2 at home.