ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Drew University men's volleyball team wrapped up play at the Elmira College Invitational with a pair of matches versus tough opponents on Saturday.
 
The Rangers (2-4) opened with a tough five-set loss to Hobart College, which is now 8-1 on the season. The Statesmen won by scores of 25-17, 22-25, 24-26, 25-18, 15-8.
 
In its final match of the day, Drew lost by scores of 25-13, 25-19, 25-15 to Nazareth College, which is now undefeated at 8-0.
 
Against Hobart, the score was tied 22-22 in the second set and the Statesmen leading the match 1-0. The Rangers came up big in the clutch, scoring the final three points on a pair of Hobart attack errors and set-clinching kill from junior Ephraim Smith.
 
Drew led just 19-18 in the third set before a 5-2 run gave it a 24-20 lead. Hobart made the Rangers work for set victory, however, scoring four straight points to pull even. But the Rangers captured the set on consecutive Statesman attack errors to go up 2-1.
 
A 5-0 Ranger run in the fourth set pulled Drew to within 18-16, but Hobart closed the set on a 7-2 run to force a fifth and deciding game. The Statesmen trailed only at 1-0 in the final set, opening on a 6-2 run before extending their lead to 13-5.
 
Junior Jacob Sledz led the Rangers with 10 kills, nine digs, and a pair of aces versus Hobart while Smith finished with nine kills. Sophomore Andrew DuHaime notched seven kills and 13 digs while classmate Jason Barbosa also totaled seven kills. Jnior Huriel Perez and senior Omarf Ortega-Reyes contributed 19 and 12 assists, respecitvely. 
 
Against Nazareth, Ortega-Reyes threw down six kills and made just one error on 10 attempts for a .500 hitting percentage. Sledz also fired six kills while Perez dished out 11 assists.
 
The Rangers continue their schedule on Wednesday, when they visit Lehman College at 7 p.m.