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Nazareth Box Score
Thiel Box Score

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The No. 15 State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team (6-7) lost, 3-1 (19-25, 26-24, 13-25, 18-25), to No. 4 Nazareth College (11-3) before rebounding with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-21) win over Thiel College (2-12) on the second and final day of the Nazareth Tournament on Saturday. Junior opposite Mike Van Tyne (Rochester, N.Y.) was named to the All-Tournament Team, and New Paltz went 2-2 on the weekend.

The Hawks had trouble keeping pace with the Golden Flyers in their first match of the afternoon, losing by at least six in each set that they dropped. New Paltz fell, 25-19, in the first set and rebounded with a 26-24 victory in the second frame. Nazareth came back with a 25-13 triumph in the third and finished off the Hawks with a 25-18 win in the fourth stanza.

New Paltz was led offensively by senior outside hitter Keith MacDonald (Monroe Township, N.J.) and Van Tyne, who each floored 11 kills. Senior setter Andrew Cassius (Brooklyn, N.Y.) handed out 31 assists, while Van Tyne led the Hawks defensively with eight digs. Junior middle blocker Kevin Stross (Port Washington, N.Y.) contributed toward the team's five total blocks with three block solos and one block assist.

Brian Bunch had 14 kills for Nazareth, while E.J. Wells-Spicer was the primary setter and notched 34 assists. Spicer had eight digs as well.

The Hawks used a seven-man lineup against Thiel and cruised past the Tomcats. New Paltz took the first set, 25-19, and went up 2-0 with a 25-15 victory in the second frame. The Hawks delivered the knockout blow in the third, staving off Thiel in a 25-21 set triumph.

Van Tyne landed a match-high 13 kills and racked up a .435 hitting percentage (13 kills and three errors in 23 total attempts), while MacDonald totaled 12 kills. Freshman setter Misa Garo (Bronx, N.Y.) dished out all 33 of the team's assists, while junior defensive specialist/libero Frank Ciccone (Long Beach, N.Y.) had 11 digs. MacDonald reinforced the front row with three block solos and accounted for 17 points throughout the match.

For Thiel, Dante McCoy floored eight kills, while Corey Hamilton dealt out 20 assists. McCoy also had eight digs.

New Paltz hosts Hunter College on Tuesday, Feb. 15, in a make-up match from the original season opener for both schools that was slated for Jan. 18. First serve is set for 7 p.m. in the Hawk Center.