NASHUA, NH – A few points that didn't go the Johnson & Wales University men's volleyball team's way was the difference in their GNAC tilt at Rivier. The Wildcats dropped the final two sets by the slimmest of margins as they fell 3-1 (16-25, 25-18, 25-23, 25-27) to the Raiders on Wednesday.

Johnson & Wales dropped its first conference match of the season as it fell to 4-9 overall, 1-1 in the GNAC. Rivier improved to 7-4 and 1-1 in the league.

For the second game in a row, the duo of Ryan Kennedy (West Barnstable, Mass.) and Brendan Baker (Providence, RI) recorded double-digit kills. Kennedy led the team with a dozen winners while Baker added 10. Baker tied Kyle MacKnight (East Northport, NY) with a team-high eight digs. Freshman setter Cameron Ponce (San Jose, Calif.) posted 31 assists.

The Wildcats played well on offense and defense in the first set as they hit .296 and limited the Raiders to a -.034 hitting percentage. Unfortunately, Johnson & Wales couldn't slow down the Rivier attack in the final three sets as it hit at least .265 in all three sets on its way to out-hitting JWU .273-to-.196.

Tied at 22-22 in the third set, the Raiders got a pair of kills and a JWU service error to take the frame. Johnson & Wales fought off three set points in the fourth stanza and tied the match at 25-25 on a RU service miscue. The hosts got a kill and then a JWU hitting error to win the match.

The Wildcats play host to a GNAC tri match on Saturday when they take on Emmanuel at 10 a.m. then Emerson at 2 p.m.