Despite senior Tristan Kozul's strong all-around performance, the Bard College men's volleyball team fell three sets to one to Nichols College Wednesday evening at the Stevenson Athletic Center.

The Raptors (1-6) started things off by grabbing a 4-2 lead following a pair of kills by freshman Angel Obergh, but the Bison (4-3) took four of the next five points to take a one point lead, including two service aces from Ray Wang (Chengdu, China). The teams remained in a close battle throughout most of the set, but Nichols went on a 10-2 run to close out the first, picking up a 25-16 victory.

The Bison started off the second set strong, taking an 8-4 lead and putting themselves in position to take a 2-0 lead in the match. But Bard came charging back, winning six of eight points to tie the set at 10 apiece. Nichols then took the lead back before the Raptors came back late, picking up four second-set kills from Kozul and two from both Obergh and freshman Quincy Ross to pick up a 26-24 second set victory to tie the match at 1-1.

With both teams looking to claim a victory in the pivotal third set, it was the Bison who came away with a 25-17 win to go up 2-1. Following an even beginning to the set, the visitors rolled off eight consecutive points to blow the set open. Although the Raptors fought their way back into it late, the deficit was too much to overcome as Nichols finished off the set strong and looked to close things out in the fourth.

Then in the fourth set, the Bison put things away with a decisive victory. Similar to the third, the team were in a tightly contested set until the visitors broke it open late. With Nichols holding a 14-13 lead midway through, they went on an 11-4 run to finish off the match, picking up a 25-16 fourth set victory and winning the match 3-1.

Kozul finished the night with 15 assists, 10 digs and seven kills, falling just three kills shy of a triple-double and leading the team in each category. Senior Esteban Rivera finished with 14 assists, six kills and a .455 hitting percentage. Obergh had a strong game, totaling seven kills, six digs and three service aces, and Ross chipped in with five kills as well.

The Raptors now kick off conference play in their next two matches Friday, Feb. 7 in Rochester, N.Y. Bard first takes on St. John Fisher College at 6:00 p.m., then follows up with an 8:00 p.m. match against Nazareth College.