Hawks Sweep Hunter to Open Season

NEW YORK, NY- The New Paltz men’s volleyball team opened the 2010 season with a straight set victory, 3-0 (30-16, 30-26, 30-18) against Hunter. The Hawks return to the court tomorrow at 6 p.m. against Elms and 8 p.m. against MIT in the New Paltz Hawks Tournament held in the Hawk Center.

Jake Moore led the Hawks with a game-high 11 kills, six aces and two blocks. Dan Liberto and Kevin Stross each had seven kills a piece and Stross added three blocks and Liberto four. Andrew Cassius handed out a game-high 32 assists and Sean Foley had six kills and seven digs.

Christopher Newcomb led Hunter with nine kills and Eric Barty added six kills and eight digs. Braien Otsla chipped in with five kills and Brendan Fang handed out a team-high 27 assists. Hunter falls to 1-2 overall on the season.

In the first set, Hunter was able to stay close to the Hawks as the teams battled to a 6-6 tie, but the Hawks would score three straight points and seven of the next 10 to take a 13-9 lead. The Hawks would hold a 16-13 advantage and then would win the set scoring 14 of the next 17 points which included 10 straight points to close out the set.

In the second set, the teams battled back and forth to a 20-20 tie, with no team holding more than a two point lead. The Hawks would take control after scoring six of the next eight points and would off Hunter for the 2-0 set advantage.

In the third and final set, the teams traded points to a 10-9 Hawks lead. Then the Hawks would rattle off 10 of the next 14 points and cruised to the victory.