Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NASHUA, N.H. – The State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team (5-0) capped off a 4-0 performance at the Live Free or Die Invitational by winning twice on Sunday, defeating No. 7 Rivier College, 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-15), and Endicott College, 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-13), at Rivier's Muldoon Gymnasium. By virtue of winning a sets won tiebreaker with Baruch College, who was also undefeated, the Hawks were crowned tournament champions.
 
Freshman setter/right side Christian Smith (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) was named the Tournament MVP, while freshman outside hitter Tim Ferriter (Rochester, N.Y./West Irondequoit) was selected to the All-Tournament Team.
 
Rivier hit just -.068 against the Hawks in the first match of the day, which led to the lopsided decision. Meanwhile, New Paltz hit at a .286 clip, and the Hawks came up with 10 total team blocks. This one-sided match saw just three lead changes—all of which were in the first set.
 
Ferriter led the attack against Rivier, hitting at a .478 clip and notching 13 terminations. Smith dished out 20 assists, while his brother, junior outside hitter/setter Brian Smith (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa), posted a match-high 10 digs. Junior middle blocker/right side Brian O'Connor (Guilderland, N.Y./Guilderland) and sophomore setter John Lutjen (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) led the front row defensively with five block assists, while Lutjen had three service aces.
 
For Rivier, Terence Matatall had a team-high five kills, while Steve Visentin handed out 14 assists. Matt Bynon led the back row with eight digs, and Matatall posted four total blocks.
 
In the nightcap, Endicott gave the Hawks a tighter match, limiting New Paltz to a .196 hitting percentage. The Hawks had just three blocks in that match, compared to the Gulls' nine. New Paltz's back row defense helped led the way with 37 digs. While the set scores indicated a back-and-forth battle, there were just three lead changes the entire match—one in each set.
 
C. Smith had a double-double for New Paltz with match-highs in assists (18) and digs (10). Ferriter keyed the offense with 12 kills, while junior setter Misa Garo (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) and junior middle blocker Dylan Rabidoux (Rochester, N.Y./Spencerport) came off the bench to tie for the team-high in aces with two.
 
For Endicott, Josh Anderson had 10 kills, while Tyler Bacon dished out 10 assists. Brennan Lowe came up with six digs, while Travis Netherton posted five total blocks.
 
New Paltz opens up United Volleyball Conference (UVC) play on Wednesday, Jan. 30, as the Hawks host Bard College at 7 p.m. at the Hawk Center.