NEW PALTZ, NY — The SUNY New Paltz men’s volleyball team finished today’s tri-match empty handed as they opened with a 3-0 (30-28, 30-27, 30-24) loss to Nazareth, before closing the afternoon with a 3-0 (30-25, 30-24, 30-24) loss to Newbury. Nazareth defeated Newbury, 3-0 (30-26, 31-29, 32-30) in the second match of the afternoon to finish the day 2-0.
SUNY New Paltz (13-6) hit only .179 as a team against the Golden Flyers to open up today’s tri-match. The Hawks grabbed an 18-15 edge in game one before Nazareth (11-5) fought back for a 30-28 win. Nazareth started on top in game two, but the Hawks battled for a 19-19 tie. The Golden Flyers, however, outlasted the Hawks down the stretch for the 30-27 win. Nazareth held the advantage again in game three and beat the Hawks 30-24 for the 3-0 victory.
Senior opposite Ryan Bullard (Smithtown, NY) led the Hawks with 13 kills. Junior outside hitter Jeff Lee (Clifton Park, NY) joined him in double-figure kills with 10, as freshman setter Matt Weingarten (East Moriches, NY) provided 33 assists. Sophomore libero Pedro Medina (Brentwood, NY) collected 14 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Tom Maving (Tonawanda, NY) and freshman outside hitter Joe Petzoldt (Phelps, NY) totaled 10 kills apiece for Nazareth. Maving also posted three aces and nine digs in the match. Freshman setter Frank Leahy (Smithtown, NY) piloted the Nazareth offense with 30 assists.
Nazareth earned their second win of the afternoon with a 3-0 win over Newbury (10-8) in the second match of today’s tri-match. Nazareth (12-5) posted an early 7-2 lead forcing the Nighthawks into a quick timeout. The Golden Flyers continued on to earn the 30-26 win. In game two, Newbury held the momentum and the lead, 24-23, until Nazareth rallied for the 31-29 win. The Nighthawks posted a .314 team hitting percentage in game three to take it down to the wire. Nazareth, however, fought from behind, 30-29, to steal the 32-30 win and the 3-0 match victory. Petzoldt and Maving, again, led the way for the Golden Flyers recording 16 kills and 14 kills, respectively. Maving added 11 digs to pick up a double-double, as freshman outside hitter Chris DeHority (Rochester, NY) totaled 20 digs in defense. Leahy tallied 53 assists in the match. Junior middle hitter Ken McNeeley (Forest Hill, MD) hit .333 for the Nighthawks, with ten kills. Sophomore outside hitter Jay Neveu (Riverside, RI) led Newbury with 11 kills in the match, while freshman libero Nicholas Horrocks (New Bedford, NY) and sophomore outside hitter Zac Falconer (Ludlow, MA) collected 16 digs and 14 digs, respectively. Sophomore setter Matthew Hartmann (Feeding Hills, MA) provided 39 assists for Newbury.
SUNY New Paltz (13-7) struggled, hitting .148 as a team, against Newbury (11-8), who won the match in three games, 3-0. Newbury posted a 19-13 lead forcing the Hawks into a timeout, before grabbing a 30-25 win in game one. The Hawks closed to within two of Newbury in game two, 23-21, however, the Nighthawks remained solid to earn the 30-24 win. The Nighthawks took a 26-23 advantage over SUNY New Paltz in game three, prior to the 30-24 win.
Lee totaled 13 kills to lead SUNY New Paltz against Newbury. Senior middle blocker Greg Jackson (Central Square, NY) totaled nine kills and four blocks for the Hawks, as Weingarten supplied 39 assists. Medina tallied 10 digs in the loss. Neveu collected ten kills for the Nighthawks, who received 27 assists from Hartmann. Horrocks and Falconer added 14 digs apiece, while sophomore middle hitter LeRoy Cooper (Claremont, CA) posted five blocks.
The SUNY New Paltz men’s volleyball team will host Yeshiva in a 2:00 pm North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) Metro Division match, tomorrow, Sunday, February 26.
