NEW YORK, N.Y. (January 14, 2009) – Senior outside hitter Joe Trinsey helped to lead the eighth-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology men's volleyball team to a 3-1 win over No. 5 New York University Wednesday night in New York, N.Y. Trinsey landed 20 kills to produce a .421 hitting percentage on 38 swings. Senior middle hitter Andrew Cranford notched a .609 attacking rating as he buried 15 kills with just an error on 23 attempts. Sophomore setter Brandt Grobeis had a career-high 60 assists as the Ducks won 30-26, 30-27, 31-33, 30-26.
Stevens built its lead to seven at 18-11 before NYU put together a rally, pulling the deficit back to three at 29-26. However, a service error on the next point gave the Ducks the win.
In the second set NYU held the score close early on and eventually took the lead 14-12. After a Stevens timeout, the Violets continued to hold an 18-17 advantage. However, two consecutive NYU errors and a Ducks kill gave Stevens the lead at 19-18. Stevens took six of the final nine points to take the set 30-27.
The third set saw the Violets jump out to a small 10-7 lead early on. However, the Ducks once again rallied, taking the lead at 15-14. After a NYU timeout, the team fought back, tying the score again at 16. Each team traded the following six points at which time Stevens appeared to take control of the set with a four-point run to give them a 23-19 advantage. NYU went on a 7-3 run to tie the set at 26. The two teams continued to battle, seeing five more ties after that point. NYU finally came through at 31-31. The Violets then sealed the set for NYU, 33-31, with a kill on the following play.
In the fourth set, back and forth points saw the set reach an 11-11 tie. At that point, Stevens went on a run to build a 17-13 lead. The two squads then returned to trading points as the Violets attempted to fight its way back in the match. Eventually NYU brought the score to within two (26-24). But that would be as close as the Violets would come as two late attack errors doomed them to a 30-26 loss.
Senior outside hitter Tomas Bochicchio led the team defensively with nine digs and added 15 kills in the win. Senior outside hitter John Dennan added six digs as senior libero Michael Ozols chipped in with five. Senior middle hitter Doug Reger hit .300 on the night and had three blocks in the win.
The Ducks posted a .344 hitting percentage on the night compared to .245 registered by the Violets. Stevens had a strong performance at the net having notched six blocks.
“Hard work over the preseason with a strong training trip to California prepared us for today's performance,” said Head Coach Patrick Dorywalski. “We have many seniors and experienced players that have played together over the years; tonight's outcome was evident of that.”
Stevens will return to the court next Wednesday when it hosts the College of Mount St. Vincent in the first NECVA Metro match of the season. Match time is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.
