Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
UTICA, N.Y. - It might be a little early in the season to be playing so many five-set matches, but after winning in a sweep later in the day, the Bard College men's volleyball team will take it.

On Saturday, the Raptors split a pair of matches at the SUNYIT Tournament, falling to Wells, 3-2, and sweeping Cazenovia, 3-0.

The Raptors are 1-3 after four matches, including two lengthy five-set losses that each ended with 15-13 defeats in the final set.

In the morning match, Wells defeated Bard 26-24, 20-25, 25-19, 25-27 and 15-13. Billy Williams led the Raptors with 15 kills and 11 digs; Jesse Small added 11 kills (.320) and 11 digs, and Henry Kasiske had 39 assists and 19 digs. Shane McDonald added seven kills and 12 digs, and Alex Adams had seven kills and 10 digs.

Later, Bard swept Cazenovia 25-19, 25-22 and 25-15 to win its first match of the season. Willliams had 10 kills and four digs, Kasiske had 22 assists, and Daniel Gagne had three aces.

The Raptors will play their United Volleyball Conference opener on Monday, as new league member Massachusetts Institute of Technology will host at 7 p.m. The Engineers are one of six UVC teams ranked in the top 15 of the American Volleyball Coaches Association preseason poll - at No. 12.