Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – Despite leading 2-0, the No. 4 State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team could not shut the door against three-time defending NCAA Division III National Champion No. 8 Springfield College on Wednesday night, falling 3-2 (25-17, 25-19, 20-25, 23-25, 8-15) to the Pride in the Hawk Center.
 
With the defeat, the Hawks move to 6-3 overall and will look to recover this Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Cairn Tri-Match, against the host Highlanders and Brooklyn College. Springfield improves to 9-5 on the year and will host Emmanuel College on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 7 p.m., a match that was postponed from Jan. 27.
 
Junior middle blocker Christopher Husmann (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) had a sensational match, finishing with a match-high 22 kills and a staggering .704 hitting percentage (22-3-27). Husmann's hitting percentage of .704 is a new Hawk Center record in a five-set match and ranks second best in single match program history. Husmann also contributed two service aces, two digs and two block assists for the evening.
 
Joining Husmann in double-digit kills was freshman outside hitter Anthony Bonilla (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz), who tallied 15 kills and just missed out on the double double with nine digs.
 
Junior setter Christian Smith (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) distributed a team-high 29 assists while notching nine kills and an ace. Senior setter John Lutjen (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) recorded 24 assists for the Hawks.
 
Sophomore middle blocker Steven Woessner (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) and senior outside hitter Gus Gregory (Walnut Creek, Calif./Las Lomas) combined for 12 kills, seven digs, five aces and two blocks on the night.
 
For the Pride, both senior outside hitter Ryan Malone and freshman outside hitter Ricardo Padilla tallied 13 kills apiece while senior setter Keaton Pieper dished out a match-high 39 assists. Both Malone and Pieper registered three service aces. Freshman middle blocker Joseth Irizarry was a force on the net with one solo block and six block assists.
 
Overall, New Paltz recorded 64 kills compared to 41 for Springfield. The Pride, however, outhit the Hawks .383 to .351 and used eight total team blocks to defend against New Paltz.
 
The Hawks looked poised for a quick, straight set sweep, winning the first two sets 25-17 and 25-19. But the Pride stayed poised and rallied from behind to take the next three sets and complete the comeback.
 
The first set was all New Paltz early on as the Hawks claimed a 7-3 lead, thanks to three-straight kills by Husmann that forced Springfield to take a timeout. Following the break, the Pride climbed to within three (10-7) but the Hawks went on a 4-1 spurt with kills by Bonilla and Gregory, to take a 15-8 advantage.
 
The Hawks remained in the control of the opening set as Woessner tallied consecutive aces to give the Hawks a commanding 23-15 lead. New Paltz enjoyed a service error by Springfield to clinch the first set. The Hawks hit .476 (13-3-21) to start the night off.
 
Set two was more of the same from New Paltz as the Hawks hit .481 (17-4-27) in the 25-19 victory. The second tilt started out a bit closer but following a timeout by the Pride, the Hawks rattled off four points to claim an 18-10 lead. Springfield looked to rally and closed within three (20-17) but the Hawks proved to be too strong and executed the set on a kill by Husmann.
 
Heading into set three, Springfield seemed to make the right adjustments and won 25-20, despite allowing the Hawks to hit .500 (15-4-22). The set was back-and-forth with the contest knotted at 15, but from that moment, the Pride forced New Paltz to call two timeouts and went on a 10-5 run to take the third set.
 
The Pride looked motivated to tie the match at 2-2 in the fourth set, jumping out to an 11-5 lead. New Paltz recovered, however, and pulled within four (14-10) after another Husmann kill. But Springfield would not budge went ahead 21-16. New Paltz then earned the serve and Smith tallied an ace followed by a Lutjen kill to bring New Paltz within three, 21-18.
 
With a nice home crowd rooting them on, the Hawks inched closer and tied the set at 22, thanks to kills by junior outside hitter Andy Fishman (Cornwallville, N.Y./Cairo-Durham) and Husmann. But the momentum continued to swing in Springfield's favor as the Pride knotted the match at 2-2.
 
Unfortunately, that momentum continued over into the fifth and final set for Springfield as the Hawks found themselves trailing 8-4 at the turn. After a Woessner kill, the Hawks were down three (10-7) but the Pride went on a 5-1 run to close out the match and complete the come-from-behind win.