(Riverdale, NY) – Sophomore Arnold Ross (Wilton, ME/Mount Blue HS) registered a combined 34 kills and 25 digs over, and Russell Butts (Long Beach, NY/Long Beach HS) combined for 23 kills, 16 total blocks, and 24 digs as the Mount Saint Vincent Men's Volleyball team split a doubleheader on Saturday, falling to NECVA Metro rival, Bard, 3-2 but sweeping Cooper Union 3-0. With the split, the Dolphins are now 5-8 overall and 2-4 in the NECVA Metro Conference.

The Mount seemed to be cruising early in the day as they opened a 2-0 lead over Bard with scores of 30-25 and 30-23 to open the match. However, the Raptors came storming back, winning the next three games, 32-34, 26-30, and 14-16 for the stunning win. The loss deals a serious blow to the Mount's playoff aspirations as they fall to fourth place in the NECVA Metro Division. Ross had the hot hand against Bard, registering a double-double with 22 kills and 20 digs. Butts also had a big match, amassing 15 kills, 14 digs, and nine total blocks.

The let-down during the final three games against Bard did not last into the next match as the Mount breezed by Cooper Union, 30-13, 30-25, and 30-15. Ross registered a match-high 12 kills and added five digs, while Butts was responsible for eight kills, 10 digs, and six solo blocks. The Mount was also led by an outstanding effort by freshman setter Chris Dotoratos (Bronx, NY/Salesian), who had 26 assists and five digs. Mount Saint Vincent scored 34 total kills against only nine attacking errors during one of their finest hitting performances of the 2006 season.

Mount Saint Vincent will travel to Baruch Monday night and then has a brutal stretch in which they host three straight nationally ranked teams. On Friday, Feb. 24, the Mount hosts Nazareth at 7:00 p.m. Four days later, they host Ramapo at 8:00 p.m. The string ends with a trip to Stevens on March 4 which will be a tri-meet with Division II powerhouse, Lees-McRae.