Staten Island, NY | The College of Staten Island men’s volleyball team hosted Lehman College and Cairn University this afternoon in a non-conference bout at The Tank. The Dolphins came in riding a two-match losing skid and were unable to break that trend this afternoon as they dropped both games to fall to 3-11 on the year.  Lehman College split the day while Cairn picked up a pair of wins.

Match 1: Lehman College 3, Staten Island 0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-15)

The Lightning unleashed an unrelenting attack on the Dolphins in the opening stanza, tallying a match-high 16 kills on 27 attacks. Conversely, the Dolphins struggled offensively, collecting just five kills on 22 attacks in the first set.  Christian Dumadag normally averages three kills per set, however, he was held in check against Lehman, compiling just three kills in the entire match. The Lightning sprung out to a 19-9 lead, using a 10-4 run to reach that mark midway through the set. Filipe Velandia was crucial during that run, uncorking blazing shots that tested the Dolphins’ reactions. Ultimately the Dolphins were unable to slow down the Lightning in the opening set.

The second set was much of the same, with Lehman College coming out on top, 25-16. The Lightning once again jumped out to a substantial lead and was able to keep the Dolphins at bay, denying any rally they tried to put together. As a team, the Dolphins amassed 10 kills, their highest of the match, on 38 attacks for a .079 hitting percentage. Lehman College once again tallied double-digit kills with 14 while keeping their errors to just four. James Yi kept the Dolphins in the set by scattering his four kills all in the second set. 

Staten Island refused to let the Lightning jump out to an early lead once again battling with Lehman keeping it close.  The Lightning caught fire and went on a 7-0 run to give them a 14-7 lead over the Dolphins, a deficit they were unable to overcome in the end as they would fall in straight sets.  

With Dumadag sidelined, Zebin Guo picked up the slack and totaled a team-high six kills on 23 attacks in the loss. Adil El Haddad collected 16 assists and 9 digs, both of which were team-highs.

Match 2: Cairn 3, Staten Island 0 (25-15, 25-21, 27-25)

With time to reflect on their earlier match, the Dolphins stepped on the court fired up to take on the Highlanders, who had just swept the Lightning. 

After dropping the opening set, 25-15, the Dolphins gave the Highlanders a match. CSI, as a team, totaled 11 kills in the second set, which outscored the Highlanders by one, however, it was the six errors that did the Dolphins in. 

There would be 14 ties in the second set before a winner was decided as the score would teeter-totter until Cairn grabbed hold of the lead late in the set. Leading 19-18, Cairn would rifle off four more unanswered points to take a 2-0 lead in the match. Micah Godshall tallied seven kills in the match but when the Dolphins were able to successfully dig his attacking attempt they were unable to put together a series of passes due to the power of the attempt. 

CSI couldn’t find a crack in the Highlanders’ defensive wall as Cairn secured 18 blocks in the match, compared to just four for the Dolphins. 

The third and final set was the best set of the afternoon, as the score went past the 25-point limit as both teams refused to lose. Staring defeat in the face, the Dolphins trailed 23-19 and would go on to score four unanswered to knot the game up at 23.  CSI would take the lead off of an attacking error by the Highlanders.  Cairn would tie it up at 25 and secure two more kills to protect the sweep and earn their second win of the day. 

Up next for the Dolphins is Medgar Evers on Tuesday, March 20 at 7PM in Brooklyn, NY.