ADAM SAMROV

Sports Editor

BENNINGTON -- There's a budding rivalry between the Southern Vermont College men's volleyball team and conference rival Daniel Webster.

On Thursday night, the Eagles got the better of it.

DWC won in straight sets, 25-18, 25-23 and 26-24.

"It's a rivalry because we're both trying to knock off the big dog in Endicott," said SVC (6-13, 3-5 in New England Collegiate Conference) coach Josh Stokes.

The key momentum shift in the match came at the end of the second set. With Southern Vermont down a set, but up 23-20, the Mountaineers looked to close out the game and tie the match. But after a timeout, Daniel Webster took the serve and never

Southern Vermont College sophomores Herson Canta and Joey Dighton make a successful block against Daniel Webster on Thursday night. (Adam Samrov)

"We allowed ourselves to let the errors get to us," said Stokes. "We've been very prone to errors this season. We're playing where our record is."

In the third set, the Mountaineers continued to struggle, getting down 10-3 after an ace from sophomore middle Joel Hendrix. But Southern Vermont continued to fight, pulling to within a point at 18-17.

Then down 23-20, a big block from Anthony Barahona and Alonzo Wright gave Southern Vermont the momentum to tie the match at 24-24. But Daniel Webster was too much, getting a kill from Hendrix to clinch the straight set victory.

"I was real impressed with my guys," said Daniel Webster (12-10, 7-1) coach Braden Zamore. "The way they finished the second set gave us a lot of momentum going into the third. Joel and [senior] Casey [Monahan] really stepped it up at the end."

Barahona led the way with 11 kills for the Mountaineers and a .320 hitting percentage for the match, while he and sophomore Florentino Escovedo tied with nine digs a piece. Sophomore Herson Canta added 31 assists.

"Other than the last point [in the second set], each play was a good error," Stokes said. "They cleared the net or the block, and the ball is just wide or long. The bad errors are the ones that get us."

Each coach said they don't want to face the other team in the conference tournament.

"That team is a well-coached, energetic and dangerous team," Zamore said. "Coach Stokes always has them well-prepared."