The Northern Vermont University-Johnson men’s volleyball team fell to the Nichols College Bison 3-0 in their matchup hosted by Eastern Nazarene College on Saturday, March 23. The Badgers move to 1-15 on the season in the loss. The Bison improve to 13-8.

The Bison won by scores of 25-9, 25-8, and 25-11. The Badgers were led by sophomore Randy Willette (Wolfeboro, NH) with four kills and four digs. Senior Austin Walters (Grantham, NH) contributed three kills and five digs while senior Nicholas Audet (Morrisville, VT) added 10 assists.

Early errors by the Bison and a kill by freshman Garrison French (New Berlin, NY) kept the Badgers within three points early in the set. The Bison then charged out on a 15-3 run to close the set, taking it 25-9. Facing an early 11-1 deficit in the second set, the Badgers strung together a handful of kills by Walters and Ryan Willette (Wolfeboro, NH) to try to close the gap. Johnson was unable to find their momentum, falling 25-8 in the second set. Down two sets, the Badgers had a slow start and faced an early 9-1 deficit. The Badgers stormed back as three Badgers recorded kills and a couple service aces to close the gap to 11-8 in favor of the visiting Bison. Sensing trouble, the Bison regained their composure and closed the game on a 14-3 run to win the set by a score of 25-11 to defeat the Badgers.