UTICA, N.Y. - With the rigors of the United Volleyball Conference schedule on the horizon, the Bard College men's volleyball team has been making the most of its non-conference games.

The Raptors improved to 5-0 on Sunday after edging Lancaster Bible College, 3-2, and sweeping tournament host SUNY Institute of Technology, 3-0. They've started the season by winning five matches in four days.

The reality check may come Wednesday, when UVC opponent SUNY New Paltz visits Bard for a match at 7 p.m. The Hawks, who were No. 13 in the preseason Div. III poll, are 4-1 with a loss to No. 5 Juniata.

On Sunday, Bard won its second five-setter of the young season with a 3-2 victory over Lancaster Bible College. The set scores were 23-25, 27-25, 25-23, 17-25 and 15-8.

Nick Chan finished with 23 kills (.488) and six digs, Brice Ormesher added eight kills and 13 digs, Billy Williams had eight kills and Henry Kasiske dished out 38 assists and added eight digs. Senior middle blocker Ryan Fallon had three solo blocks.

The SUNYIT match was close, too, but Bard swept 25-23, 25-22 and 25-23. Ormesher and Chan and nine kills apiece, Williams had eight digs, and Kasiske contributed 25 assists and two aces. SUNYIT is a UVC member but this was a non-conference match.