New Paltz, N.Y. – The No. 6 Stevens Institute of Technology men's volleyball team topped New Paltz, 3-0, in a non-conference tilt on Wednesday night.

Julius Steimer led the way with 11 kills for Stevens (4-0), while Nikko Tenedorio paced New Paltz (3-1) with 11 kills. The Ducks claimed the match by scores of 25-21, 25-23, and 26-24.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Stevens jumped out to a 9-3 advantage in the opening frame, as Phillip Bone hammered down two kills, with Steimer adding a kill and back-to-back service aces. The Ducks stretched the margin to eight at 12-4 on kills from Bone and Greg Li, and the lead hovered around that mark for most of the period.

The Hawks reeled off a 7-1 run to get within two at 19-17 before Joshua Levandoske halted the momentum with a kill. The two sides traded points the rest of the way, as Steimer sealed the set with a kill off a Nick Schmidt set to give Stevens a 25-21 win.
The second period went back-and-forth early before four straight points went in favor of Stevens, including three unforced errors by New Paltz. A Steimer kill pushed the Ducks in front 15-12, but the Hawks answered with two straight to close within one.

Stevens rebuilt a three-point cushion at 23-20 on a kill from Li before a double block by Li and Schmidt brought up set point. New Paltz fought off three set points, but Levandoske put down a Schmidt set to close out the frame, 25-23, and give Stevens a 2-0 lead.
Stevens fell behind early in the third set, trailing 8-5. Three consecutive attack errors by the Hawks evened the score at eight, and the see-saw stanza was tied at 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

The Ducks then peeled off four straight points, capped by a service ace from Esteban Schmitt and two kills from Levandoske. A New Paltz service error extended the lead to five at 21-15, but the Hawks responded with a 7-1 rally to tie the set at 22.
Bone recorded a kill to bring up match point, and after a New Paltz error, added another to make it 25-24. Stepping to the service line, the senior delivered an ace to secure the sweep.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Steimer finished with 11 kills, seven digs, and two aces.
• Levandoske added nine kills and five digs, while Tyler Hoke and Li each posted two blocks.
• Dominic Ambrose anchored the defense with 11 digs, and Schmidt dished out 30 assists.

UP NEXT
The Ducks remain in-state this weekend, competing in the two-day Clash at Kean Tournament. Stevens opens play Friday against No. 4 Juniata College at 7:00 p.m. in Union, N.J.