Hoboken, N.J. – The No. 4 Stevens Institute of Technology men's volleyball team swept Hood 3-0 in Middle Atlantic Conference action before falling to New Paltz in straight sets on Saturday afternoon.
The Ducks (14-4, 2-0 MAC Freedom) knocked off the Blazers 25-15, 25-13, and 25-16 before dropping a 25-23, 25-23, and 25-21 decision to New Paltz.
HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Hood)
Despite falling behind 3-1 in the opening set, the Ducks regrouped and embarked on a 10-1 run.
Colin Hughes had a kill and an ace during the run as
Dominic Ambrose,
Colin Holden, and
Cade Allen put down kills during the stretch. Included in the rally was a 7-0 spurt, which was punctuated by a Hughes ace. A service error trimmed the gap to six at 18-12 but Stevens took six of the next seven markers to go up 24-13.
Jacob Lobdell contributed an ace and a kill as
Bennett Heydorn put away two kills. Heydorn closed out set one with a kill off a
Holden Findley set to put Stevens up 1-0.
With the score tied at three in the second stanza, Stevens ripped off six straight markers with Holden serving. The first-year had an ace with
Alfredo Bolado and Heydorn registering kills. The home side stretched the margin to double digits on the heels of a 9-2 run, with Lobdell collecting two blocks. A service error handed Stevens the second set, putting them firmly in the driver's seat.
Leading 6-5 in the third, Stevens tallied 10 of the next 11 points to go up 16-6. Hughes had three kills during the run and teamed up with Holden for a rejection. The Blazers got as close as seven at 21-14, but three of the next four points, including two kills from Hughes, brought Stevens to match point. Hood fended off one, but Bolado sealed the victory with a kill off a Findley set.
HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. New Paltz)
Stevens jumped out to a 5-2 lead against the Hawks, as
Joshua Levandoske capped the run with a solo block. The two sides traded points before New Paltz crept in front 10-8 on a 5-0 run. The Ducks answered back to pull even at 10 on kills by
Julius Stiemer and
Ryan Schmid, and after a side out, scored the next three to go up 13-11. New Paltz went back in front by two and back-to-back Schmid kills evened things at 19, with the score then deadlocked at 20, 21, 22, and 23 before New Paltz netted the final two tallies to take set one.
The Hawks tallied seven of the first eight markers in the second set before an
Alex Olcott ace and a Schmid kill made it 7-4. A 6-1 Ducks run, aided by five unforced errors by the Hawks, pushed Stevens in front 12-11 before a 5-0 rally gave them a 17-12 advantage. Olcott and Schmid recorded kills as
Tyler Hoke and Schmid teamed up for a big rejection. New Paltz hung around and closed the set on a 6-1 run, including the final four markers to go up 2-0 in the match.
The third was the tightest early, with ties at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 before New Paltz reeled off five consecutive points. The Ducks battled back, as an
Esteban Schmitt kill coupled with two attack errors trimmed the deficit to two at 14-12. The teams exchanged points the rest of the way before New Paltz claimed three of the last four to clinch the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (vs. Hood)
- Hughes registered a career-best 12 kills while hitting .500 (12-2-20) while adding three blocks.
- Bolado added seven kills and four digs, as Heydorn put down six to go with three blocks.
- Findley dished out 26 assists, with Bozarth recording 11.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE (vs. New Paltz)
- Schmid led the offense with 18 kills while hitting .485 (18-2-33) and added three digs.
- Levandoske recorded seven kills and eight digs while adding two solo blocks.
- Titus Rodz picked up a team-best eight digs and added seven assists, with Nick Schmidt and Bozarth combining for 21 helpers.
UP NEXT
The Ducks resume MAC action on Wednesday, hosting Eastern University at 7:00 p.m. inside Canavan Arena.
