POUGHKEEPSIE (3-3) – UC Santa Cruz played two matches on their second day of their five-match trip to the East Coast. The Banana Slugs fell to #10 Vassar College 3-1 in the morning match and swept SUNY Poly in the evening match.

Match #1 – vs. #10 Vassar College

In the first set, the Banana Slugs started the set out on a 5-1 spurt capped by a Sam Wittert kill. The Banana Slugs would never trail in the set. The Banana Slugs would take their largest lead of the set at seven, at 13-6, on a Kyle Donohoe kill. The Banana Slugs won the first set 25-21.

In the second set, the two teams would trade points for the first ten serves of the set. The Brewers would take the lead for good at 6-5 on a Matthew Knigge kill. The Banana Slugs would come as close as four, at 24-20, on an attack error by the Brewers. The Brewers won the second set 25-20.

In the third set, the two teams would trade points for the first sixteen serves. The Brewers would take the lead at 9-8 on a solo block by Knigge. The Banana Slugs would work their way back into the set and took the lead at 23-22 on a Lake Merchen kill. The Brewers would score the final three points of the set, however, and would win the third set 25-23.

In the fourth, the Brewers would start the fourth set on a 10-2 run capped by a service ace. The Brewers would gain their largest lead of the set at nine, at 16-7, on an assisted block by Knigge and Jefferson Waters. The Brewers won the fourth set 25-18.

For UC Santa Cruz, Merchen had thirteen kills and for Vassar, Knigge had a match high twenty-two kills.

For the match, UC Santa Cruz had a .106 hitting percentage while Vassar hit .135. The Brewers had six more service aces (8-2) than did the Banana Slugs.

Match #2 vs. SUNY Poly

In the first set, the two teams would trade points for the first six serves. The Wildcats would take the lead at 4-3 on a Zachary Sweet kill. The Banana Slugs would get back into the set and would take the lead at 17-16 on a Ryan Manley kill. The Banana Slugs won the first set 25-23.

In the second set, the two teams would trade points for the first six serves. The Banana Slugs would take the lead for good at 4-3 on a Raymond Cascio kill. The Banana Slugs would win the second set 25-19.

In the third set, the Banana Slugs started the set on a 7-4 spurt capped by a Gino Gamboa kill. After trailing 15-12, the Banana Slugs would get back into the match using an 8-4 spurt, capped by a Chris Salas kill, to take the lead for good at 20-19. The Banana Slugs won the third set 25-23.

For UC Santa Cruz, three players (Cascio, Ryan Manley and Merchen) had eight kills and for SUNY Poly, Max Szuba had a match high eleven kills.

For the match, UC Santa Cruz had a .268 hitting percentage while SUNY Poly hit .105 hitting percentage.

The Banana Slugs will continue their trip to New York tomorrow as they will take on NCAA Division III #15 SUNY New Paltz in the morning match and #7 Dominican University (IL) in the evening match.