ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – The Bard College men's volleyball team dropped an NEVC match against the Nichols Bison and fell to the Regis Pride in a non-conference battle on Saturday.

Against Nichols, Lincoln Grisso had nine kills and nine digs, nearly missing a double-double. He added two blocks. Ansel Waisler also had nine kills, along with four digs. Georgi Chikolov had eight assists, two kills, and two aces for Bard. Quinn Lewis was a defensive stopper with six digs.

In set one, the Raptors battled throughout the opening stages, getting kills from five different players. At 13-10, Nichols won three straight points for the first time in the match, forcing a timeout from Bard. Waisler had a kill out of the break to halt the momentum, but the Bison prevented the comeback. Each team had ten kills, but the Bison limited their errors to just two.

Bard found its footing in the opening 13 points of the second set, when they held a 7-6 lead. However, Nichols had a string of four straight points at that point and with a two point lead 12-10, forcing a timeout at the same stage as in the first set. The Raptors saved three set points at 13-24, one on a Bison service error, and two on Chikolov aces. However, Nichols outlasted the Raptors' run. The Bison rode their momentum through the third set, as they earned an 11-4 advantage in the beginning, and had that same margin of victory at the end of the set, 25-18. Nichols hit 13 kills to Bard's nine in the final set.

Versus Regis, Grisso led the Raptors with a season-high 13 kills. Waisler recorded his sixth double-double of the season with a career-high 19 digs and 12 kills. Gideon Jacob dished out a career-high 17 assists in the effort, adding three digs and an ace. Quincy Ross had a team-high five blocks along with three kills and an ace. Esposito had seven kills, seven assists, and seven digs, contributing as a utility player.

Bard hit an overwhelming 16 kills with no errors in the first set, hitting .471. Waisler was a defensive stalwart, with 11 of Bard's 20 digs in the set. At the Raptors' first set point, 24-22 in the first set, a ball skied into the rafters and proved difficult to read, giving the Pride life. Regis then tied it up, followed by a Pride service error. With the score knotted at 25-25, Waisler got a kill to bring up Bard's third set point. Jacob punctuated the set with an ace.

In set two, The Pride jumped out to an early lead and extended it to 18-10 after a 7-0 run. Bard would pull within six points but Regis finished strong, winning five of the final six points and taking the second set 25-15. Grisso's five kills and two blocks highlighted the third set, but ultimately it was the Pride who took a 2-1 set lead. The Raptors were in it until a 5-1 Regis run at 11-9 brought the score to 16-10.

The fourth set was hotly contested, as neither team got a four-point lead until Regis had a 5-0 run at 17-15 to find breathing room. The Raptors had a late surge, with three straight points – including two aces from Waisler – but Regis held on for the victory.

The Raptors' next opponent is Potsdam, who they host for Pirate Night on March 28 at 5 p.m.