MARCY, NY – The Bard College men's volleyball team suffered a heartbreaking loss against SUNY Poly in the opening round of the NEVC Championship on Wednesday night. Set scores were 19-25, 25-21, 25-22, 18-25, 13-15. 

Bard had two players with double-digit kills. NEVC Rookie of the Year, Ansel Waisler, had 18 kills, his 22nd match with double-digit kills this season. Waisler added 11 digs, four aces and four blocks. All-NEVC Second Team, Sidney Stein had 16 kills, his 19th match with double-digit kills in the season. Stein was a dig shy from another double-double with 9 digs. 

Lincoln Grisso contributed with eight kills, two aces and two blocks. The assisting was shared between Gideon Jacob and Pearse Esposito. Jacob had a career-high 22 assists, and 11 digs, while Esposito had 17 assists. 
 
SUNY Poly came out strong in the first set, taking a 10-5 lead. The Raptors battled back and got within two points of the Wildcats midway through the set, 15-17. At 18-20, Poly went on a 5-1 run to take the first set. 

In the second set, Bard came out strong going on a 5-2 lead. The Raptors kept the Wildcats at bay, having at least a one or two point margin. Lincoln Grisso had a service ace to set up set point for the Raptors and a Poly service error gave the Raptors the set. 

The third set was similar to the second set as the Raptors took an early lead, 6-3. However, SUNY Poly went on a 6-1 run and took a 9-10 lead. Back-to-back errors from Poly and a service ace, gave the Raptors back the lead. Both teams went back and forth with the points, but at 21-21, Bard had back-to-back kills from Stein and a service error from Poly to set up set point. A kill by Esposito gave Bard a 2-1 lead. 

The Wildcats took an early control of the fourth set, 6-3, but Bard went on a 4-0 run to take a quick lead, but was answered back by Poly's 4-0 run to take the lead. Poly took the fourth set, 25-18. 

In the fifth set, Bard started hot with a 7-4 lead. Poly fought their way back and went on a 6-4 run to tie the game up 10-10. The Wildcats won four straight points but Bard was not done yet. The Raptors saved three match points with a service error from Poly, an attack error and a kill by Waisler, but at 13-14, the Wildcats found their last kill and won the match. 
  
Bard had its best season in the NEVC, winning 12 games which is their first double-digit win total since 2016 and their first playoff run since the 2011 season when Bard was in the Skyline Conference Championship. Waisler ended his season ranked fifth all-time with 400 kills in a season and 2nd all-time with 48 aces in a season.