Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The No. 6 State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team (24-5) added a signature win to its résumé on Saturday afternoon at the Vassar Tournament, as it upended previously-unbeaten and top-ranked Nazareth College (31-1), 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-20), before downing host Vassar College (19-10), 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-19). New Paltz was the lone team to go 4-0 at the Vassar Tournament, and by virtue of that, the Hawks won the tournament title.

Sophomore setter John Lutjen (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West), who nearly boasted a triple-double in the Hawks' three-set win over Nazareth, was named to the All-Tournament Team.

The Hawks avenged their loss against Nazareth from three weeks ago, winning in a one-sided, three-set affair.

New Paltz benefited from a lights-out offensive performance against Nazareth, hitting at a .407 clip. The Golden Flyers, meanwhile, hit just .247. New Paltz had 4.5 blocks to Nazareth's 3.5, and the Hawks collected 24 digs to the Golden Flyers' 21.

Junior outside hitter/setter Brian Smith (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) steered the offense against Nazareth, hitting .667 with 12 kills and two errors in 15 total attempts. Freshman outside hitter Tim Ferriter (Rochester, N.Y./West Irondequiot) and Lutjen added 10 kills apiece. Lutjen's statistical line nearly reached a triple-double for the second time this season, as he fell one dig short. In addition to his 10 kills, he had 19 assists and nine digs. Freshman setter/right side Christian Smith (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) split time with Lutjen in the 6-2 offense, doling out 18 assists.

For Nazareth, Robert Kraft was the lone player to reach double-digit kill figures with 11, and E.J. Wells-Spicer dished out 29 assists. Wells-Spicer also led the back row on defense with eight digs.

The Hawks also made quick work of Vassar in the nightcap, using a well-balanced attack to come away with the win.

New Paltz fashioned a .352 hitting percentage, while Vassar hit at just a .132 clip. The Brewers did outblock the Hawks, 7-6, but New Paltz held the upper hand in digs, 34-26.

B. Smith once again propelled the attack with eight kills, leading a six-player Hawk contingent that posted at least five kills. Lutjen and C. Smith handed out 17 and 14 assists, respectively, while junior libero Victor Tuminelli (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills West) accumulated 15 digs.

For Vassar, Patrick Donohue had a team-high seven kills, while John Konow added 16 assists. Christian La Du finished with nine digs, while Joe Pyne and Donohue reinforced the front row with three total blocks apiece.

New Paltz, which has just two matches remaining in the regular season, visits the Garden State on Tuesday, April 2, and will square off with non-conference New Jersey City University at 7 p.m.