For the third consecutive time the College of Staten Island men’s volleyball squad has split a weekend trimatch, this time as part of CUNYAC play as they would fall to Lehman College and defeat City College of New York in their set of games this afternoon played at the CCNY campus.  CSI pulled to 4-9 overall and 2-4 in CUNYAC play.  

In the opener, CSI inched closer with each set, but still it was the Lightning that was too strong, winning, 25-11, 25-15, 25-20.  The Dolphins were guided by Mark Palencia’s seven kills, while Khaleeq Baum, playing in his first action of the season posted five kills.  Roberto Ventura Diaz posted 11 kills for the winning Lightning, while Yordy Diaz had an even 10.  Emmanuel Ortiz led all scorers with 18 assists for Lehman, while Adil El Haddad for CSI led all with 10 digs.

In the second game, CSI came roaring back with a 19-25, 13-25, 25-20, 25-18, 15-9, five-set win, their first of the year in five sets.  In a close opening set, CCNY broke things open with a 6-1 run to make it 15-8, helped along by three Sebastjano Aga for the Beavers.  CSi closed again to 16-14, but two Aga aces built the lead again for good.

CSI then stumbled in the second set and never could get on track, posting five attack errors next to just two kills, as CCNY closed the set on a 16-6 run.

Needed a sign of life, CSi got it in the third set.  Two-straight Baum kills got CSI an early lead, and later, three-straight attack errors for CCNY, gave CSi a 13-9 edge.  After CCNY closed to 20-17, Danil Kukovitskiy put away a kill to give momentum back to the Dolphins and they were able to hang on, 25-20.

CSI then started strong in the fourth set, racing out to a 7-3 lead thanks to two Palencia aces.  The Beavers attacked back and cut the lead to 11-9 at pne point, but a kill by Valencia opened up a big 7-4 run to put CSi back up comfortably, 18-13.  From there, again CSI stayed the court to hold on for victory.

In the final winner-take-all set, CSI got off to a quick, 3-0 lead.  CCNY countered by reeling off the next three to tie, but then two CCNY errors, coupled with Palencia and Kukovitskiy kills gave CSi a bigger, 10-4 edge.  The Dolphins then chipped away, splitting point with the Beavers until an attack error by Aga finished the game and gave CSI the big come-from-behind win.

CSi will next be in action on Thursday, March 16, when they host Medgar Evers College at the Sports & Recreation Center at 7:00pm.  The game will not count as a CUNYAC conference game.