SUNY New Paltz Men’s Volleyball Edged by Gothic Knights

JERSEY CITY, NJ — The SUNY New Paltz men’s volleyball team received their third North Eastern Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) Metro Division loss in a 3-2 (21-30, 30-27, 32-30, 28-30, 12-15) defeat to, division rival, New Jersey City University (NJCU).

After dropping game one, 30-21, SUNY New Paltz (13-5, 6-3) battled gain the advantage winning game two, 30-27, and game three, 32-30. NJCU (10-3, 4-2) evened the affair with a 30-28 win in game four before sealing their 3-2 victory with a 15-12 score in game five.

Five Hawks reached double-digit kills and six recorded double-doubles. Junior outside hitter Jeff Lee (Clifton Park, NY) topped all players with a, career-high, 21 kills. He posted a .333 hitting percentage on 48 attempts, he added 12 digs on defense to earn his third double-double of the 2006 season. Senior opposite Ryan Bullard (Smithtown, NY) also provided SUNY New Paltz with a double-double, collecting 10 kills and 23 digs, his third of the season. Bullard pushed his team-leading ace total to 32 with five against the Gothic Knights. Seniors, outside hitter Jamie Kellogg (Scio, NY) and middle blocker Greg Jackson (Central Square, NY) recorded 13 kills apiece, as junior middle blocker Josh Spiro (Island Park, NY) tallied 12 kills. Spiro and Jackson totaled 11 and ten blocks, respectively, to complete their double-doubles, while Kellogg added 24 digs for his. Freshman setter Matt Weingarten (East Moriches, NY) recorded career-highs in assists and digs to earn his first career double-double, with 62 assists and 16 digs. Sophomore libero Pedro Medina (Brentwood, NY) pitched in with 22 digs on defense.

The Gothic Knights also had five players record double-digit kill performances. Freshman outside hitter Kevin Rodgers (Clifton, NJ) set the pace with 17 kills, junior middle blocker Damon LaSalle (Clifton, NJ) flowed with 15 kills, freshman opposite Thiago Siqueira (Newark, NJ) added 12, as juniors, opposite Rob Griffiths (Edison, NJ) and setter Maurice Washington (Orlando, FL) each totaled 11 kills. Washington recorded a triple-double, adding 50 assists and 13 digs to his double-digit kills. Griffiths and Rodgers earned double-doubles with 16 digs and 14 digs, respectively.

The SUNY New Paltz men’s volleyball team will host a tri-match this weekend, February 25 and 26, featuring Nazareth and Newbury. The Hawks will challenge the Golden Flyers of Nazareth in the opening match, starting at 9:00 am.