Box Score

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The No. 3 State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team defeated visiting Hunter College in straight sets (25-16, 25-17, 25-16) on Thursday evening at the Hawk Center.
 
With the win, New Paltz improves to 19-3 overall and has now rattled off 13-straight victories. New Paltz will host No. 11 Elmira and Bard in United Volleyball Conference (UVC) action on Sunday, March 29, starting at 11 a.m. Hunter, meanwhile, moves to 17-10 overall and takes on York (N.Y.) and City College of New York (CCNY) in a City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) Multi-Match on Saturday, March 28, starting at 3 p.m.
 
For the match, the home Hawks hit a staggering .508 (40-9-61), including a .750 mark in the third and final set. New Paltz limited Hunter to a .173 hitting percentage and enjoyed 34 total errors from the visitors while only trailing just once in the entire match.
 
New Paltz was able to play every active player on the roster and the stats were well spread out, with seven players recording at least three kills. Leading the way was junior setter Christian Smith (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) who finished with six kills, nine assists, four digs and four blocks. Smith hit .667 (6-0-9) on the night.
 
Junior outside hitter Andy Fishman (Cornwallville, N.Y./Cairo-Durham), the reigning UVC and Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Player of the Week, also tallied six kills and a match-high four service aces. Sophomore middle blocker Steven Woessner (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) and senior setter John Lutjen (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown West) both notched five kills apiece, with Woessner providing three aces and Lutjen distributing a team-high 13 assists.
 
The NCAA Division III leader in hitting percentage, junior middle blocker Christopher Husmann (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) enjoyed a perfect hitting night, with four kills on four swings. Freshman outside hitter Anthony Bonilla (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz) and senior outside hitter Gus Gregory (Walnut Creek, Calif./Las Lomas) both tallied three kills. Senior defensive specialist Misa Garo (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Hayes) and freshman setter Mitchell Kennedy (Penfield, N.Y./Fairport) finished with eight and six assists, respectively.
 
In the opening action, New Paltz starting pulling away with an 11-6 lead, as Fishman registered three kills and an ace during this stretch. After Hunter scored on a serving error to make the set 11-7, the home Hawks rattled off seven straight points on Lutjen serves to take a commanding 18-7 advantage. Trailing 23-10, Hunter began to rally and went on a 5-0 run to cut into the New Paltz momentum. However, a kill by freshman middle blocker Ryan Cole (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) and Lutjen put an end to the first contest.
 
In set two, junior defensive specialist Chris Lilley (Stony Brook, N.Y./Ward Melville) started the serve and helped New Paltz to a 4-0 lead, capped off with an ace. Hunter inched within two (6-4) but the home Hawks went on a 7-2 run which forced the visitors to take a timeout. The set started to get closer out of the break but Lilley was subbed back into the contest and found the hardwood for another ace to give New Paltz a 23-16 lead. A kill by freshman middle blocker Nick Denoncourt (Rochester, N.Y./Penfield) and another ace by Garo sealed the second set win.
 
Hunter stuck around in the beginning of the third and final set before New Paltz pulled away for the three-set sweep. Knotted up at 6-6, the home Hawks went on a 6-0 run, scoring three points on Fishman aces, to enjoy a 12-6 cushion. Hunter climbed to within four (14-10) before New Paltz earned the serve once more and scored three points on Kennedy serves to go ahead 22-12. Freshman outside hitter Ben Cohen (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) finished the match off with the set-clinching kill as New Paltz improves to 4-1 in the Hawk Center this season.