ARLINGTON, Va. – Marymount University men's volleyball split a pair of matches on Saturday. The Saints took the first match against conference opponent Kean University 3-0, but came up short in three sets against No. 4 Vassar College.

Game One

The Saints took on the Cougars in three close sets but came out on top of each. While the Saints attempted only six more attacks than the Cougars, the Blue and White finished with 40 kills compared to the Cougars 29.

Will Wright led the Saints with ten kills while Hayden Kerekes and Caden Kelty each added seven. The Saints managed a combined .266 attack percentage with Sava Topich leading the Saints with a .571. Topich supported the Saints offense with 31 assists and four kills while Kerekes was instrumental on defense with a solo block and two block assists. Mason Moore contributed with a block assist and block solo in addition to six kills.

The Saints took all three sets with 25 points, the first two sets with a two-point lead, and the final with a three-point buffer. The Saints steadily improved their performance throughout the match with a .174 attack percentage in the first set but a .318 and .294 in the second and third sets. The Saints solid performance exceeded the Cougars demonstration, who failed to make more than ten kills per set with the Saints defense.

Game Two

The Saints put up a fight in the second match of the day pushing the Vassar Brewers to 31 points in the first set. The Saints put up a .270 attack percentage but were unable to match the Brewers offense in the end. The Saints made 18 kills but the Brewers took the lead a little over halfway into the set and the Blue and White couldn't match the Brewers solid attack percentage.

Marymount continued to challenge Vassar in each set, and drove the Brewers attack percentage down in each set. The Saints attempted an upset in the third set but the Brewers were able to recover and take the set after they were tied at 23. 

Wright and Jason Perkins led the Saints in kills with seven each, and Perkins finished with a .500 attack percentage. Caden Kelty and Moore both added six kills to the Saints total. Perkins was key for the Saints defense with three block assists and one solo block. Meanwhile Grayson Andrews and Topich both supported the Saints offense with 17 and nine assists, respectively.

The Saints travel to play conference opponent Randolph-Macon College, on Tuesday, March 22 at 7:00pm.