The Saint Vincent College men's volleyball team began its inaugural season against St. Norbert College in a neutral site match at Hiram College. The Bearcats fell to the Green Knights in five sets, 3-2. In the second match, the Bearcats faced the hosts, Hiram College. SVC fell in straight sets, 3-0.

St. Norbert 3, Saint Vincent 2

Mitchell Niderstros notched the first-ever kill for Saint Vincent to record the first point of the match. St. Norbert answered with four-consecutive points to take a 4-2 lead. The Bearcats won the next two points but the Green Knights extended its lead to four (8-4). SVC tied the set at eight after four-straight points of its own including two kills by Niderstros.

SNC regained the lead with a 6-2 run and led 14-10. Saint Vincent tried to get back into the set but did not get closer than three points as the Green Knights won the opening set, 25-21.

The second set began with both teams trading points until the Bearcats won three points to take a 6-4 lead. St. Norbert tied the set at six and eventually took a 9-8 edge. SVC won seven out of the next eight points and claimed a 15-10 lead. The Green Knights pulled within two points but was not able to tie the set as Saint Vincent held on to win the second set, 25-21.

The Bearcats opened the third set by winning five of the first six points. SNC slowly climbed back into the set, cutting the deficit to two (9-7). Saint Vincent responded with another run of 5-1 to increase its lead to 14-8. St. Norbert tried to comeback in the set but still trailed five as the Bearcats went on to win the set, 25-19.

Saint Vincent grabbed early control of the set with a 6-4 lead. Both teams then exchanged small leads until St. Norbert went on a 7-2 run and led 16-11. The Bearcats eventually pulled within four (22-18) but could not close the gap any more, falling 25-20.

The fifth and final set was all the Green Knights. SNC won the opening five points and closed the set on a 7-0 run to win the set, 15-5 and the match, 3-2.

Niderstros led the Bearcats with 17 kills while Gage McCracken contributed 11 kills. Matthew Furrer led team with 18 assists while Joshua Canty added 16.

Hiram 3, Saint Vincent 0

Hiram College opened the first set by taking early control and never looked back. The Terriers at one point led by 10 points (16-6). Saint Vincent tried to battle back but the deficit was too much and dropped the first set, 25-15.

The second set looked like it was going to be similar to the first as Hiram opened the set by taking a 6-1 edge. The Bearcats were able to cut the difference to two (11-9) but the Terriers won eight out of the next 11 points to lead 19-12. SVC once again clawed back into the set and cut it to three points (22-19). However, after a Hiram timeout, the hosts won three of the final four points to win the set 25-20.

The third set was a carbon copy of the first for the Terriers. After taking a seven-point and then an eight-point lead, Hiram cruised to the set win (25-17) and the match victory (3-0).

McCracken paced the offense with 11 kills with Niderstros totaling nine. Both Canty and Furrer finished with 11 assists while Collin Neville led the defense with eight digs and two blocks.

Saint Vincent is 0-2 on the season and will host Penn State-Behrend on Sunday, Jan. 26 in the Robert S. Carey Student Center. Start time is 1 p.m.