The Bard College men's volleyball team faced Saint Elizabeth and Rutgers-Newark on Monday afternoon, defeating the Eagle before falling to the host Rutgers-Newark. 

The Raptors were able to separate themselves from the Eagles in the first set after being tied up at 14-14. They had key contributions from Ansel Waisler in a 9-1 run, as he hit three attacks that were too hot to handle, then changed it up for his sixth kill of his first collegiate match. Waisler hit another missile off the Eagles' blocker to seal the set for Bard. Sidney Stein had a whopping nine digs in the set to lead all players, and Waisler's eight kills were the most in the set, with Stein recording four. Pearse Esposito had eight assists and two aces in the frame.

In the second set, the Raptors jumped out to a five-point lead at 6-1. Bard extended the lead to seven at 11-4 before the Eagles called timeout. Esposito and Stein found a rhythm, with back-to-back points finishing with kills from Stein assisted by Esposito. At 15-8, the Raptors' front line put on a show, with a block by Will Beane-Rosenberg and Stein followed up by a solo stuff by Esposito. Bard rode that momentum all the way to the end of the set, winning it 25-14. The Raptors hit .462 and committed just two attacking errors during the second set.

Bard continued to cruise into the third set, going up by five at 6-1 again. The Eagles made them work for it, getting within two points during crunch time at 22-20. Bard grabbed the next two points, then on match point, the Raptors punished a desperation dig that became a moonshot from Saint Elizabeth, setting their offense up for Waisler, who was up to the task.
Bard's statistical leaders were Waisler with 13 kills, Gideon Jacob with 16 assists, and Stein with 11 digs. Lincoln Grisso led the team in blocks, with four. Esposito had the best hitting percentage, at .500, getting seven kills in 12 total attacks.
 
Against the Rutgers Newark Scarlet Raiders, the Raptors fell in three sets.

In set one, the Raptors made a statement in the early going of set number one, going up 8-3. Jacob and Waisler had aces during this stretch of impressive play. The tide changed midway through the set, at 13-13, Rutgers Newark settled into a pattern and took a 1-0 lead.

From 3-6 to 11-9 in the second set, Bard went on an 8-3 run. Esposito did a great job at the net, blocking an attack to finish off the run, giving the Raptors a two-point lead. On set point down, Waisler kicked the ball over on a third touch, keeping the point alive for Bard. Esposito had a big kill to bring the score to 20-24 later in the point. The Scarlet Raiders outlasted the Raptors in the end, taking a competitive set.

In the third set, Waisler had three kills, Stein had two, and Esposito had one as well as a block. The Raptors showed grit against Rutgers Newark but fell 25-19. 

Grisso led the team with five digs, Stein had three, and Jacob had two. Esposito and Jacob split time dishing out assists, as Esposito had eight while Jacob had six. Waisler had a team-high seven kills, Esposito had four, and Stein contributed three.

The Raptors face St. Joseph's - Long Island for their home opener on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Stevenson Athletic Center.