NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The No. 3 ranked State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball squad will take on No. 8 Springfield College, the three-time defending Division III National Champions, on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m. in the Hawk Center.
RECORDS: New Paltz is currently ranked third in Division III and holds a 6-2 record… Entering Wednesday, Springfield College is currently ranked eighth in Division III and holds an 8-5 record.
SCOUTING THE HAWKS (6-2): On Wednesday, Feb. 18, the Hawks fell at No. 1 Stevens Institute of Technology in straight sets (24-26, 12-25, 22-25)… Junior setter
Christian Smith had a team-high 10 kills on a .400 hitting percentage and a team-high 16 assists…Freshman outside hitter
Anthony Bonilla was named the UVC and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Week for the period ending Feb. 15… Bonilla tallied seven kills in the match against Stevens... Junior middle blocker
Christopher Husmann had seven kills and also registered a team-high .500 hitting percentage… Senior setter
John Lutjen had four kills, 11 assists, three digs, and one block assist… Husmann is second in the nation in hitting percentage (.468).
STATISTICAL LEADERSKills: Bonilla (3.14 per set), Husmann (2.46 per set), Smith (2.04 per set)
Hitting Percentage:
Chris Lilley (1.000), Husmann (.468),
Nick Denoncourt (.429 set)
Assists: Smith (5.62 per set), Lutjen (5.15 per set), Miso Garo (3.57 per set)
Service Aces:
Steven Woessner (.41 per set), Lutjen (.31 per set), Bonilla (.28 per set)
Digs:
Kevin Nardone (2.55 per set),
Steve Gassert (1.67 per set),
Andy Fishman (1.26 per set)
Blocks: Woessner (.89 per set), Husmann (.86 per set), Smith (.69 per set)
TEAM STATISTICS: New Paltz is currently second in the NCAA for assists (11.89 per set)… The Hawks are first in UVC for assists (12.45 per set), kills (13.10 per set), and opponent kills (8.34 per set)… New Paltz is second in the UVC for opponent assists (7.83 per set) and opponent hitting percentage (.137)… The Hawks hold the number three spot for hitting percentage (.293).
SCOUTING THE PRIDE (8-5): On Saturday, Springfield fell to Harvard University in the 28th Annual Volleyball Hall of Fame Morgan Classic in four sets (23-25, 25-21, 23-25, 21-25)…Senior outside hitter Ryan Malone had a team-high 19 kills, hitting at a .441 clip to go along with eight digs and three aces… Freshman outside hitter Ricardo Padilla Ayala added 12 kills, and senior middle blocker Jason Mascoe produced a career-high 10 kills in the middle, hitting at a .571 clip while posting three blocks... Senior setter Keaton Pieper led the Pride's offense to a .304 hitting percentage as he totaled 49 assists on the night.
STATISTICAL LEADERSKills: Angel Perez (3.28 per set), Malone (2.90 per set), Ayala (2.88 per set)
Hitting Percentage: Joseth Irizarry Feliciano (.561), Tucker Evans (.500), Matthew Peretto (.500)
Assists: Pieper (10.08 per set), Eric Johnson (4.95 per set), Luis Garcia Rubio (3.36 per set)
Services Aces: Malone (.38 per set), Ayala (.36 per set), Tom Ketley (.27 per set)
Digs: Peretto (2.69 per set), Malone (1.54 per set), Ayala (1.48 per set)
Blocks: Feliciano (.95 per set), Mascoe (.92 per set), Shaun Ermi (.88 per set)
TEAM STATISITICS: Springfield ranks fourth in the nation in assists (11.78 per set), hitting percentage (.297)… The Pride rank sixth in Division III in kills (12.49 per set) and ninth in blocks (2.40 per set).
LAST MEETING: The Hawks defeated Springfield 3-0 when these two teams last met on Feb. 14, 2014.
WHAT'S NEXT: The Hawks will face Cairn University and Brooklyn College on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Langhorne, Pa. at the Cairn Tri-Match… The Pride will play Emmanuel College on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Wellness and Recreation Complex in Springfield, Mass.
