NEW YORK, NY - Gautham Dasari's career-high 18 kills led New York University's 13th-ranked men's volleyball team in a four-set victory over Arcadia University on Thursday night at the Brooklyn Athletic Facility. 

Luke Boyer also had a career-high 12 kills while Ryan Li distributed a career-high 44 assists.

"We had a really good offensive game," said head coach José Piña. "Our wings were really strong, they hit really well. All three hit over .400 which is outstanding."

In the first set, the Violets and Knights tossed the lead back and forth until the score became tied at 14-14. From there, NYU posted an 11-1 run, bolstered by two service aces from Ryan Li and kills from Lucas Osiecki, Dasari and Boyer, to pull their ahead. An additional kill from Ry Kagan ended the first.

Arcadia responded by opening the second set with a quick pace, going on a 7-3 run to grab a lead that lasted until 18-15. However, not to be deterred, the Violets logged another late comeback with a 10-2 run to secure the second. 

In the third set, the Knights notched an early lead with a 6-1 spurt but, this time, held onto it. Another 6-1 run after leading 12-9 helped Arcadia increase the point difference. Two kills by Dasari tried to close the gap, but Arcadia sealed the third with a kill to bring the match score to 2-1. 

Arcadia posted a 6-0 run early in the fourth set in an attempt to equalize the game, but the Violets came back with a 7-1 rally of their own to edge ahead 16-15. NYU coupled this with a 7-2 run to settle into a comfortable 24-18 lead. The Knights scored two consecutive points in an effort to change the momentum, but Kagan again delivered a decisive kill.

Another key moment in the fourth set was Sachin Dasari subbing in at setter. The sophomore logged six assists and two total blocks in the final frame to help NYU to victory.

"Usually, when you make a substitution it brings fire," Piña noted. "The kid that comes in wants to impress and the team wants to pull that guy up. The emotion got going, we had a great hit (right after Sachin checked in) and a great block on the play after that.

"The key to our season is how clean we play. We have a lot of talent, but it's inexperienced talent so we have to learn as the season goes."

Osiecki joined G. Dasari and Boyer in double-digit kills with 12. Osiecki also logged a career-high 11 assists for his first double-double of the season. Li had four service aces while Osiecki and Kagan followed with three each.

The Violets will next face Ramapo College on Saturday, February 4, in Mahwah, NJ.