Riverdale, NY - The College of Mount Saint Vincent's men's volleyball team took the court for the first time in the 2023 season, challenging Wilkes University in a non-conference battle inside the Peter Jay Sharp Center. The Dolphins brought the energy all game long, but the Colonels had an answer for every challenge, resulting in a victory in straight sets (25-13, 25-16, 25-18). Despite the opening night loss, CMSV will look to regroup before entering conference play in February. The Dolphins entered the season ranked fourth among their peers in the Skyline's men's volleyball preseason poll. 

In the early goings of the first set, the Dolphins and Colonels traded leads. Junior James Rose started off the new season on the right foot, registering a kill off an assist from Terence Strehle to make it 1-0 Dolphins. A pair of service errors from Wilkes brought the score to three points apiece, leading to Kyle Thompson registering his first two kills of the year to tie things once again, this time at five. Wilkes would go on a five point run while edging the Dolphins 18-7 to complete the first set. 

Senior Olatomiwa Ibitayo kicked things off in the second set, collecting his first kill of the year off yet another Strehle helper. CMSV would capitalize on multiple errors from Wilkes, putting the team ahead 4-1. Both teams would trade points in a similar fashion to the first, with the Dolphins regaining their lead at 16-14 when Thompson and Tristen Hood converted hits. The Dolphins saved their best efforts for last when they scored a game-high 18 points in the final set of the evening. CMSV continued to go step for step with Wilkes, resulting in a 20-18 game towards the end of the set. Despite their best efforts, the Colonols took the trip back to Pennsylvania with the win in hand. 

Thompson, the team's top returner at outside hitter, paced the Dolphins with seven kills while also adding five digs and assisting on a block. Ibitayo collected three kills and 1.5 blocks while Strehle led the Dolphins with 12 helpers. Returning libero Felix Paulino had eight digs on the defensive end of things. 

Next up for the Dolphins is Monroe College. They'll take the short road trip to New Rochelle and battle the Mustangs in a week from Friday.