ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - The Bard College men's volleyball team got off to a quick start on Wednesday night, surprising Ramapo College by taking the first set, 25-21.

The Raptors were passing well, communicating well, and playing with great intensity.

It prompted an equally intense response from the Roadrunners, however, and they ran away with the non-conference match, 3-1, by winning the final three sets 25-13, 25-20 and 25-10.

Ramapo, 12-5 overall, hit .450 as a team in the crucial third set, and .533 in the fourth set, which wasn't close. Sophomore Jeff Jones (Manahawkin, NJ) led Ramapo with 13 kills (.550), and sophomore Chris Sidnam (Smithtown, NY) added 11 kills and hit an amazing .786, with no attack errors.

Sophomore Andrew Balint (East Brunswick, NJ) had 42 assists and sophomore Aaron Kerschner (Harrisburg, PA) had 13 digs for the winners.

Bard (6-11) hit .250 in the first set and never exceeded that the rest of the way. Nick Chan had 11 kills and six digs, Henry Kasiske had 24 assists, and Brice Ormesher had three blocks, but the Raptors were unable to find the magic they had in the first set.

Bard heads to the Rochester area this weekend for a United Volleyball Conference Crossover at Nazareth College. They'll play No. 7 Nazareth on Saturday, then Hilbert and No. 9 Medaille on Sunday.