BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Pratt Institute men's volleyball team put forth a spirited effort in their final home games of the season at the Activity Resource Center, but dropped a four-set decision to Bryn Athyn College (26-28, 25-19, 25-22, 26-24) and a straight-set defeat to Bard College (25-13, 30-28, 25-22) on Saturday.
In the first match of the day, Pratt won the opening set in a tight battle that saw 17 ties and six lead changes. The Cannoneers weathered a five-point deficit at 17-12 with five straight points of their own off a pair of kills from Brooks Reid and a Max Wang kill. Pratt earned three set points and fought off a Bryn Athyn set points before back-to-back miscues gave the opening frame to the gold-and-black.
The Lions erased an early 13-7 Pratt lead in the second stanza and won the final six points after a 19-all deadlock. Bryn Athyn also nabbed the third set for a 2-1 lead after pulling away late in the frame again.
Pratt had thoughts of avenging the league loss earlier in the season to Bryn Athyn with a strong fourth set. After a 17-all stalemate, Pratt ran off a 7-1 run for six set points, but was unable to force a fifth set as the Lions closed out the match winning the final eight points.
Jason Raymond finished with a match-high 12 kills and four blocks in the opener and Max Wang registered career-highs of nine kills and five aces to go along with 12 digs. Reid dished out 22 assists with a match-best 14 digs, four aces, and three kills for a double-double. Eli Toker chipped in four kills.
In the finale, Pratt hung tough with Bard in a strong second and third stanza after being held to just 13 points in set one. The second stanza saw 14 ties and eight lead changes and the teams traded set point opportunities. After the black-and-gold was unable to convert on two set points of their own, Bard converted on their fourth set point for a 30-28 win. The third set saw Pratt whittle a 20-16 deficit to one point at 23-22 but was unable to get any closer.
Raymond also led the attack in game two landing seven kills with a .211 kitting effort and seven digs. Wallace Hallot contributed a season-high four kills as seven different Cannoneers had a kill. Reid finished with 11 digs, eight assists and two kills.
Ty McGlynn led Bard with 12 kills on .348 hitting and brought up 12 digs. Angel Obergh added nine kills.
Pratt concludes the 2023 campaign on Tuesday traveling to Cairn University for a 7 p.m. first serve.
