The men's volleyball team opened its 2026 season on Tuesday night with a tough three-set loss to the fifth-ranked Ducks from the Stevens Institute of Technology, falling by scores of 25-20, 25-19, and 25-18 inside ARC Arena.
The visiting Ducks controlled the tempo throughout the match, totaling 35 kills while hitting an efficient .270 as a team.
The Bearcats finished the night with 27 kills and a .158 hitting percentage against one of the nation's top programs.
Peter Gavroff paced the Bearcats' offense in the season opener, recording a team-high 10 kills. Valentin Rodriguez helped facilitate the attack with 21 assists, distributing the ball effectively against a disciplined Stevens defense.
The Bearcats also saw encouraging performances from several newcomers. Rookie Benjamin Nirenstein made an impressive debut, finishing with five kills and four digs, while fellow first-year Ismael Sanogo made his presence felt at the net, contributing three block assists.
Stevens from Hoboken, New Jersey was led by Julius Reimer, who finished the match with 11 kills to anchor the Ducks' balanced offensive effort.
The Bearcats will look to rebound quickly as they return to the ARC Arena on Friday, January 23, when they host #1-ranked Springfield College in a 6:00 p.m. match.
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