- Score: MIT - 3, Rivier - 1 (25-21, 27-25, 25-19, 25-16)
 
- Records: MIT (2-4), Rivier (1-4)
 
- Location: Nashua, N.H. (Muldoon Gym)
 
- The Lead: Graduate student Nick Gustafson (San Diego, Calif.) posted 25 kills as the MIT men's volleyball team earned a four-set victory at Rivier on Thursday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
- Set 1: The two teams stayed close early before a 5-2 MIT run gave the Engineers a 14-10 advantage. The Raiders made it a 16-15 match off an MIT service error. A kill from first year Ryan Espinoza (Los Angeles, Calif.) helped jumpstart a 3-0 run, but Rivier responded with a 3-0 run to make the score 21-19 in favor of MIT. Back-to-back points from Gustafson gave MIT the 25-21 win.
 
- Set 2: A kill from Gustafson tied the set at eight and started a 4-0 run punctuated by an ace from sophomore Matthew Pierre-Louis (Port Washington, N.Y.). Espinoza gave MIT a 15-11 advantage, but the Raiders went on a 6-2 run to tie the match at 17. The host built a 21-19 lead, but the Engineers used a 3-0 run to regain the lead at 23-22. Gustafson saved set point with a kill to make it 25-all, but Rivier scored the next two points for the 27-25 win.
 
- Set 3: A 5-1 run for MIT, highlighted by three kills from Gustafson put MIT in the lead 13-6. Rivier chipped away as an MIT error made it a 14-9 set. The Engineers continued to hold onto the lead as another Gustafson kill made it 21-12. The hosts used a late 3-0 run to hold off set point and make it a 24-19 set, but senior Phillip Johnson (Chandler, Ariz.) gave the Engineers the set win with a kill.
 
- Set 4: A 7-1 run punctuated by an Espinoza ace gave the Engineers a 15-9 lead. Rivier followed with a 4-2 run to make it a 17-13 set. MIT went on a 6-1 run to end the set and secure the 25-16 win.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
 
- Gustafson's 25 kills are two off his career high of 27 which he set in a five-set win over NYU last season. He hit .513 in the match with two aces and three digs. Espinoza added nine kills and six digs, and Johnson finished with seven kills.
 
- First year Kevin Zhu (Dublin, Calif.) finished with six kills, and senior Max Turner (Chandler, Ariz.) led the way with 42 assists and contributed seven digs. Sophomore Kevin Windisch (Placentia, Calif.) led the Engineers with 11 digs.
 
- Sokunbuth Ly led Rivier with eight kills, and Neil Rea led the way with 24 assists.
 
- MIT hit .298 in the match and held the Raiders to a hitting percentage of .115.
 
UP NEXT:
 
- The Engineers stay on the road as they head to Eastern Nazarene on Thursday, February 8th for a 6 p.m. non-conference match. 
 
STAY CONNECTED:
 
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