SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- The 14th-ranked men's volleyball team fell to No. 12 Rivier in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Springfield College on Friday evening.
 
The Knights wrap up their season at 26-11 following the 26-24, 28-26, 25-23 setback to the Raiders. The 26 wins is the most in the program's three-year history.
 
The first two sets needed extra play to be decided and Arcadia, making its first NCAA appearance in program history had chances to steal either one. Tied at 8-8 in the first, the Knights used a 5-1 run capped by kills from Quinn Baily and Robie Moctezuma to assume a 13-9 lead.
 
The Raiders came back to take a 16-15 lead on the strength of a 7-2 run and the match proved to be tightly contested the rest of the way. Three straight points from the Knights, including a block and a kill from Moctezuma, gave AU a 21-18 lead, but the Raiders answered with five of the next six points to inch ahead 23-22. Jason Manley put down a kill for AU to tie the set at 23-23, but the Knights couldn't pull ahead and an attack error and a kill at 24-24 gave the first set to Rivier.
 
In the second, AU had its chances once more. A 6-2 burst turned a 10-9 lead into a 16-11 lead midway through and the Scarlet & Grey maintained at least a four-point lead until it grabbed a 20-14 lead. From there, the Raiders rallied with five straight points to tie the match at 20-20. Austin Braas halted the surge with a kill for a 21-20 lead, but the Raiders wrestled the lead back at 23-22.
 
Consecutive kills by Baily pushed the Knights in front 25-24, presenting them with the first of two set points. An attack error by Arcadia tied things back up at 25-25, but another kill by Baily gave the Knights another chance at 26-25. The Raiders scored the final three points of the set, including a pair of kills by David Smith, to take the set 28-26 and a 2-0 lead in the match.


The Knights played from behind much of the third set, but managed a 5-2 run midway through to tie it a 14-14, then eventually take a 17-16 lead. Leading 19-18, the Knights saw Rivier use a 4-1 run to take the lead for good at 22-20. The Knights managed to pull within one on two occasions (23-22/24-23) but the Raiders sealed the win with a block by Francis Kokoros and Dashaun Graham.
 
Baily led the Knights with 15 kills and hit .414. Braas had 13 kills while hitting .455, and Dan Paraskevov chipped in five kills. Anthony Devantier handed out 39 assists and added three blocks, while Moctezuma also registered three blocks. Jason Manley came up with a team-high eight digs.