Friday-Sunday, April 25-27, 2014: New Paltz (27-3) at NCAA Division III National Championships Huntingdon, PA
Tournament Coverage	Tournament Website | NCAA Live Video
No. 1 Springfield Links	Men's Volleyball Home Page
No. 2 New Paltz Links	Men's Volleyball Home Page
No. 3 Juniata Links	Men's Volleyball Home Page
No. 4 Rivier Links	Men's Volleyball Home Page
No. 5 Carthage Links	Men's Volleyball Home Page
No. 6 Kean Links	Men's Volleyball Home Page
No. 7 Stevens Links	Men's Volleyball Home Page
No. 8 Endicott Links	Men's Volleyball Home Page

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – At the start of the 2014 season, the State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team had one singular goal: To win the NCAA Division III National Championship.
 
On Friday evening at 5:30 p.m., New Paltz begins that journey, as the No. 2 nationally ranked and No. 2 seed Hawks face No. 7 seed Stevens Institute of Technology in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division III Championships held from April 25-27 at the Kennedy Sports+Recreation Center at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA. Live stats for the Stevens match can be found at this link, but will change as the championship progresses. 
 
The winner of the New Paltz (27-3)-Stevens (22-7) match would face either No. 3 Juniata (27-4) or No. 6 Kean (26-7) in the semifinals round on Saturday at either 4:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. The other quarterfinal matches on Friday feature No. 1 Springfield (24-7) vs. No. 8 Endicott (18-12) and No. 4 Rivier (29-6) vs. No. 5 Carthage (22-7). Sunday's championship match starts at 2 p.m.
 
The Hawks have met Stevens twice this season, winning both matches. New Paltz defeated Stevens at the Hawk Center, 25-19, 25-22, 25-18, on February 19. The teams then met again in the semifinals of the United Volleyball Conference (UVC) Tournament on April 12, with the Hawks earning a (3-1) 26-24, 25-19, 22-25, 25-15 victory.

Ticket Information
Single match prices are set at $6 for adults and $4 for students and senior citizens. All-session passes cost $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Juniata's Fan Guide has more information. Click here to access it. 
 
Against the NCAA Field
The Hawks are 4-1 against this year's NCAA field. New Paltz defeated Kean 3-1 (25-23, 25-23, 19-25, 25-23) on February 1 … The Hawks split with Springfield, losing 3-1 (22-25, 25-20, 27-29, 23-25) on February 6, but evened the score on February 14 with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-23) victory… On that same day, the Hawks defeated No. 2 Springfield and No. 1 Rivier 3-0 (25-19, 25-18, 25-18) in matches played at Springfield…  New Paltz also swept then No. 2 Juniata 3-0 (25-20, 25-21, 25-22) on March 1 in a match played at Vassar.

Rare Feat
On February 14, the No. 3 nationally-ranked Hawks swept No. 1 Rivier and No. 2 Springfield. It marked the Hawks' first-ever wins over the top two teams in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division III Men's Top-15 Coaches Poll in the same day. The AVCA has produced a weekly national poll for Division III since the 1996 campaign.

Championship History
No. 1 seeded Springfrield College has won eight Division III titles, hoisting the Molten Invitational National Championship trophy six times 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, before capturing the inaugural NCAA Division III crown in 2012 and then repeating as National Champions in 2013.
One for the record books
This season's 27-3 record is the second best mark in school history, following a 34-2 season in 1985.
 
Winning streak
The Hawks are riding a nine-match winning streak, having not lost since March 8, a 3-2 loss to Medaille College (25-22, 22-25, 21-25, 25-19, 12-15) at the UVC West Crossover.

Home Grown
Sixteen of the 17 players on the New Paltz roster hail from New York. Junior outside hitter Gus Gregory traveled the farthest -- from Walnut Creek, CA. 
 
A new UVC Champion
New Paltz became the first team other than Nazareth to win the UVC championship plaque. The Golden Flyers won the title from 2011-13, but New York University upset Nazareth in the quarterfinal round to a new champion would be crowned this season.
 
Back-to-back for Ferriter
For the second consecutive season, Tim Ferriter earned First-Team All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA).  Ferriter, who was an AVCA a First-Team All-American and the NCAA Division III Newcomer of the Year in 2013, leads the Hawks in kills with 315 (3.71), which is fourth best in the UVC. He ranked fifth in hitting percentage (.365). A valuable asset defensively, Ferriter averages 1.41 digs per set and 0.54 blocks per set. In the 2014 season, he has earned two UVC Player of the Week nods, two Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) North Player of the Week laurels and one Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) NCAA Division III Player of the Week honor. He had 22 matches with 10 or more kills, including a season-high 19 against Vassar on January 19.
 
AVCA Honors
The Hawks placed two players on the AVCA All-American First Team. Sophomore Christian Smith joined Ferriter. Smith, who serves as one of the two setters in a 6-2 offense and leads the team in assists per set (6.71) in addition to ranking second on the squad and sixth in the UVC in service aces per set (0.32). Smith averages 1.80 kills per set, 1.23 digs per set and 0.58 blocks per set in addition to hitting at a .307 clip. He had 20 matches with 20 or more assists, including a season-high 44 against Kean on February 1. A business finance major, he is the son of Patrick and Debbie Smith, and he is a 2012 graduate of Massapequa High School.
 
AVCA Newcomer of the Year
For the second straight year, the Hawks earned the AVCA Newcomer of the Year honor, this year going to freshman middle block Steven Woessner, who also earned Second-Team All-American honors.  Woessner, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the UVC Tournament, earned the Sports Imports/American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Men's NCAA Division III National Player of the Week honor for the week ending April 13. He impacted the team immediately as a freshman, serving as a threat both offensively and defensively. He led the team and ranks second in the UVC in service aces per set (0.51), and he ranked second on the team with a .359 hitting percentage that ranks third in the UVC. Woessner also averages 2.00 kills per set third best on the team. He added a team-best 0.78 blocks per set and 0.52 digs per set. He earned UVC Rookie of the Week honors once this year, picking up the accolade on March 10. He had a career-high 13 kills against MIT on February 25.
 
Set Advantage
The Hawks hold a 98-18 advantage in sets won by set, including an impressive 10-1 mark in the fourth set and a 31-3 advantage in the second set.