NEW PALTZ, N.Y. - The Bard College men's volleyball team lost a pair of United Volleyball Conference games Saturday afternoon, falling to Elmira and defending national champion, New Paltz, in straight sets. 

Set scores against Elmira were 25-12, 25-10 and 25-20. 

The Raptors (4-16, 0-5 UVC) opened the day slowly, falling behind by double-digits in each of the first two sets, as the Golden Eagles of Elmira (8-17, 1-4 UVC) raced out to a quick two sets to none lead.

The third set was more competitive, as each side battled to a 16-16 tie game. However, from that point, the Golden Eagles locked in, scoring eight of the next nine points to go up, 24-17.

Bard managed three straight points to stave off defeat momentarily, but ultimately fell, 25-20 in the set and 3-0 in the match.

On the afternoon, Bard struggled hitting the ball, as the team finished with a .000 hitting percentage. Elmira meanwhile, hit .403 over the course of the three sets. 

The Raptors had three players (Alex Adams, Shane McDonald and Tristan Kozul) finish with four kills each, while Mahir Sheikh added 15 assists and Josh Kim collected 10 digs in the loss. 

Dan Symer (Burnt Hills, NY) led the way for Elmira with 11 kills and Jeremy Best (Wexford, PA) finished with 22 assists. 

In the second matchup of the day, Bard was tasked with playing last season's defending national champion, New Paltz (19-4, 3-1 UVC), in their home gym. 

The Raptors fell to the Hawks of New Paltz in straight sets, 25-11, 25-16 and 25-22.

After struggling in the first and second sets of the match, Bard played much better in the third set, as they nearly stole it late. 

Midway through the set, with the Hawks up 16-14, the Raptors rallied off four straight points to take an, 18-16 lead.

As each side battled, the score eventually became tied up at, 20-20, before New Paltz scored four of the next five points to take a crucial, 24-21 lead.

Bard cut it to a, 24-22 game, on a kill from Stefan Briggs, but the Hawks answered the Raptors' kill with a kill of their own to win the set and match. 

New Paltz really showed its pedigree on the day, as it finished with a .431 hitting percentage. Bard, just like in the first match, couldn't match its opponents' hitting total and finished with a .000 percentage. 

The Raptors once again had three players tie for the team-lead in kills, as Kozul, Briggs and Tyler Zowaski each finished with four kills. Sheikh collected 13 assists in the effort. 

Nick Smith (Massapequa, NY) led the Hawks with eight kills in the match, while Matthew Grace (Holbrook, NY) led the team in assists (22) and digs (nine).

Up next for Bard, is a road contest against Brooklyn College on March 14th at 7 p.m.