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York (N.Y.) Box Score

JAMAICA, N.Y. – Led by junior defensive specialist/libero Michael Dauernheim (Bay Shore, N.Y.), the Tournament MVP, the No. 15 State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team (16-10) won the York College Men's Volleyball Classic, defeating New Jersey City University, 3-1 (25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 25-14), Mount Olive College, 3-2 (17-25, 25-16, 27-29, 25-23, 17-15), and host York (N.Y.) College, 3-0 (25-13, 25-13, 25-23), on the second and final day of action on Saturday afternoon.

The Hawks won in the lone match in which they competed on Friday evening, defeating the New York City College of Technology, 3-0 (25-10, 25-8, 25-11). On the weekend, they achieved a perfect 4-0 record and were the only team to do so at the event.

Everyone saw action against the Gothic Knights, and the Hawks, who were challenged early through two sets, cruised through the final two frames to skate to a day-opening four-set victory.

Freshman setter Brian Smith (Massapequa, N.Y.) powered the attack against NJCU, landing a team-high eight kills. Senior setter Andrew Cassius (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and freshman setter Misa Garo (Bronx, N.Y.) split time at setter, collecting 20 and 19 assists, respectively, while Dauernheim corralled a team-high 10 digs. On the blocking front, senior middle blocker Jonathan Van Dyke (Hopewell Junction, N.Y.) recorded three block solos, while junior middle blocker Kevin Stross (Port Washington, N.Y.) posted one block solo and three block assists. Off the serve, Stross was particularly effective, slamming down five service aces.

NJCU was led by Michal Kucza's match-high 16 kills, while Jorge Rodriguez distributed a match-high 32 assists. Defensively, Chris Edra compiled a match-high 12 digs, while Rich Boyle had 11.

The starters all saw significant action against Mount Olive, as the Hawks were involved in a five-set thriller. New Paltz lost the first set, 25-17, before responding with a 25-16 triumph in the second frame. The Hawks found themselves on the short end of a 29-27 third set, but they were able to regroup and force a deciding fifth set with a 25-23 win in the fourth. Showing resolve, New Paltz finished off Mount Olive in the fifth, taking the frame by a score of 17-15.

Junior opposite Mike Van Tyne (Rochester, N.Y.) and Stross led the Hawk attack with 15 and 13 kills, respectively, while senior outside hitter Keith MacDonald (Monroe Township, N.J.) boasted 12 kills. Dauernheim came up big defensively with 12 digs, while MacDonald and Cassius each had eight. Cassius dished out 39 assists, while Van Tyne landed three service aces.

Finally, the Hawks ended their weekend as it began, sweeping a City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) school in straight sets. York fell victim to the consistent all-around play from New Paltz's reserves, as the Hawks won the first two sets decisively before staving off the Cardinals in the third. As a team, New Paltz hit .225 on the contest, while York hit -.093.

Smith boasted a match-high 12 kills, while Garo dished out a match-high 29 assists. Sophomore outside hitter Addison Baxter (Shoreham, N.Y.) kept rallies alive with a team-high six digs, while Smith floored four service aces.

Terrence Sutton and Jhonnattan Fernandez tied for York's team-high in kills with four, while Kenan Kajtezovic handed out five assists. Defensively, the Cardinals received contributions from Alex Niles and Kajtezovic, who chipped in with eight and seven digs, respectively.

New Paltz hosts Baruch College on Thursday, March 17, at 7 p.m. in its final regular-season home match of 2011 and will honor its four seniors—Cassius, Van Dyke, MacDonald and setter/opposite Jakub Chleboun (Prague, Czech Republic)—in a pregame Senior Night ceremony.