Albany, N.Y. – The Nichols College men's volleyball team ended regular season conference play with a crushing loss to Sage University 3-2, this evening at the Robinson Gymnasium.

With the loss the Bison drop to 13-14 and a NEVC record of 5-2 while the Gators move to 11-16 with a 4-3 NEVC conference record.

Adam Vincent nearly delivered a historic performance in the loss, tying his own single-game kills record of 27, which he set earlier this season, while hitting an impressive .444. The offensive effort was supported by Bradyn Pomainville with nine kills, while Bryce Bonville and Austin Gavin each added eight. Gavin led the Bison at the net with four block assists, while Pomainville and Snow each contributed two block assists and one solo block. Junior Evan Sachs made history, achieving the setter "triple crown" at Nichols by breaking the single-season assist record. He now sits at 909 assists after recording 53 tonight, his second-highest total of the season. Defensively, libero Cade Bernardi anchored the backline, tallying 15 digs to help contain the opposition's attack.

Sage opened the match with the first kill, setting the tone early. Both teams were efficient offensively, as the Bison hit .265 with 15 kills, while the Gators responded with 17 kills on a .333 hitting percentage. The Bison built a brief two-point lead, capitalizing on Gator attack errors, but the set quickly turned into a back-and-forth battle with multiple lead changes. Late in the set, Vincent and Pomainville delivered key kills to keep the Bison in contention. Nichols regained the lead at 23-22 following a clutch kill from Vincent, and pushed ahead to 24-23 with set point in hand. However, the Gators mounted a late rally, taking advantage of Bison errors down the stretch to steal the set, 29-27.

Nichols bounced back in the second set, building an early 7-2 lead by taking advantage of Sage errors. The Gators delivered key kills to keep the Bison in control, while consistent play at the net and solid defense limited Sage's opportunities. The Bison tried to rally midway through the set with points from Vincent and Gavin, but Sage responded each time, maintaining their lead. The Gators pulled away late, closing out the set 25-15 to even the match.

Nichols opened the third set trading points early with Sage in a tight back-and-forth battle. The Bison leaned on Sachs at the service line and Vincent at the net, with Vincent delivering multiple kills to keep Nichols within striking distance.. At 23-22, a clutch kill from Vincent put Nichols ahead, and a follow-up point gave the Bison set point at 24-23. However, late errors allowed Sage to rally, scoring the final five points and taking the set 29-27. Despite the narrow loss, Nichols showcased resilience and strong individual performances, keeping the match tightly contested heading into the fourth set.

The Bison came out firing in the third set determined to seal their final conference  matchup with a win, fighting for early points in the frame. Both teams ended up going point for point, with neither team giving up ground, The Bison led by kills from Bonville and Vincent pushed ahead on a 6 point heater pushing the lead to 20-16. They took their foot off the gas and continued trading points but the deficit was too large, taking their first set of the night 25-20. 
The Bison came out strong in the fourth set, opening with an early 4-point run sparked by Sachs and Vincent to take control. Bonville and Pomainville helped extend the momentum with another 5-point run, including a service ace from Pomainville that energized the team. Midway through, Nichols went on a decisive 3-point run led by Gavin, Snow, and Sachs, giving them a comfortable lead. Trading points through the final rallies, the Bison maintained their composure and closed out the set 25-20.

The Bison started the final set with energy, opening with an early 3-point run sparked by Sachs and Vincent to stay competitive. Pomainville and Gavin contributed timely kills to extend Nichols' momentum, keeping the score close in the opening stages. Mid-set, Nichols battled through another 4-point stretch with strong contributions from Snow, Bonville, and Sachs, but crucial errors and missed opportunities allowed the Bison to fall behind. Despite another late push led by Vincent and Gavin, Nichols could not overcome the deficit, and the Gators closed out the set 25-15, securing the match victory.

The Nichols Bison will wrap up their 2026 regular season on the road, taking on the Wheaton College (Mass.) Lyons on April 2nd at Emerson Gymnasium. The opening serve is scheduled for 7:00 PM.