MADISON, N.J. – The Drew University men's volleyball team played its first conference match in team history on Friday night in Baldwin Gym, dropping a 3-0 decision to No. 2-ranked Southern Virginia University in a Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC) affair.
 
The Rangers, who competed as a Division III independent during their first three seasons as a varsity program, joined the CVC this past spring.
 
The undefeated Knights (7-0, 1-0), who captured the CVC title and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division III Championships last season, won by scores of 25-15, 25-15, and 25-17.
 
Freshman Quinn Donahue distributed 12 assists and served up a pair of aces for Drew while classmate Eric Forget scooped seven digs.
 
Christian Sheaffer led Southern Virginia with 11 kills and five blocks.
 
The Knights led 8-1 in the opening set, but the Rangers battled back and pulled to within three (10-7) following a 6-2 run that included kills from senior Ephraim Smith, Donahue, and freshman Gio Martin along with a service ace from junior Andrew DuHaime.
 
Southern Virginia responded with a 6-1 run to push its lead back to eight, but the Rangers rallied to twice close within five, the last time coming at 17-12. SVU closed the set on an 8-3 spurt.
 
The Knights used a fast start again in the second set, opening on a 14-5 run, and Drew was unable to closer than seven the rest of the way.
 
In the final set, Southern Virginia scored the first three points but the Rangers came back with a 4-1 surge, which featured kills from freshman Matthew Adegbite and Smith, to make it 4-4. However, the Knights gradually pulled away and led 23-14. Drew scored the next three points to make it a six-point affair before the visitors scored the last two points to clinch the match.
 
The Rangers are back in Baldwin Gym on Saturday, when they host a tri-match versus a pair of non-conference foes. Drew takes on Ramapo College at noon and Hunter College at 4 p.m.