BROOKLYN, N.Y. – In a matchup of two Clinton Hill foes, the Pratt Institute men's volleyball team nearly forced a fifth-and-deciding set, but fell 3-1 (25-21, 19-25, 25-17, 27-25) on Tuesday evening at the Activity Resource Center.
Named CSAC Offensive Player of the Week yesterday, sophomore Jason Raymond paced the Pratt (1-7) attack with a match-high 16 kills paired with 15 digs, four aces and a block for a double-double. First-year Brooks Reid naded out 23 assists and brought up 13 digs also for a double-double.
First-year Max Wang brought up a match-high-tying 20 digs and aided the offense with a season-best seven kills. Owen Hinrichs chipped in two kills with a pair of blocks.
St. Joseph's (1-4) picked up their first win behind Alex Helfant's 10-kill, 19-dig double-double. Frank Tello chipped in eight kills with three blocks.
The visitors jumped out to a 6-1 lead to open the match but the Cannoneers drew even at 10-all and both teams remained within two points until late in the frame before the Bears closed out the set on a 4-1 run in a 25-21 set win.
Pratt rallied to tie the match in the second. After six early ties and and four lead changes, Reid served a crucial ace during a run of three unanswered that built a 20-15 cushion. SJBK pulled back within one at 20-19, but the Cannoneers won the final five points to level the match at one set all.
Riding the momentum of the second, the gold-and-black raced out to an 11-4 lead in the third. Pratt remained ahead at 16-11, but St. Joseph's scored five straight to level the set at 16-all and continued to pull away winning the final 14 of 15 points.
A back-and-forth fourth set saw 11 ties and eight lead changes, with both squads within two points the majority of the set. St. Joseph's built a 19-15 cushion before a 5-1 Pratt run tied it up at 20-all. The teams traded the lead over the nine points with Pratt earning two set points at 24-23 and 25-24. After unsuccessfully converting to force a fifth set, the Bears won three straight and converted on their first match point attempt to end any comeback hopes.
Pratt travels to New Jersey City University on Tuesday, February 28 for a road test starting at 7 p.m.
