Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The No. 2-ranked State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team closed out the Juniata Invitational with a 2-0 victory, sweeping Lasell College 3-0 (25-13, 25-14, 25-15) before defeating the host Eagles 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-11).

The Hawks rise to 14-2 and return home to host New Jersey City University on Wednesday, Mar. 2 at 7 p.m. in the Hawk Center. Lasell drops to 8-7 and will host Johnson & Wales College on Wednesday Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. Juniata drops to 5-6 and will face No. 14 Hunter College in the final match of the day at 4 p.m. before heading out to play University of Rutgers-Newark on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.

New Paltz 3, Lasell 0
The Hawks and Lasell traded points back and forth in the start of the opening set until a 4-0 run capped off on a service ace by junior opposite Joe Norman (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) pulled New Paltz to an 8-4 lead. Lasell slowly closed the gap, slicing the score to 9-11 as the team capitalized on several New Paltz errors. The Lasers continued to trail until Norman and junior middle blocker Steven Woessner (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) floored a kill each for a 15-10 lead. After a Lasell timeout, senior outside hitter Andy Fishman (Cornwallville, N.Y./Cairo-Durham) doled out four service aces to help push the Hawks' advantage to 21-10. The Lasers trimmed the deficit to 24-13 but New Paltz would take the win as Norman served up an ace at the line.

Fishman landed three aces and a kill to hand New Paltz a 4-1 edge in the second set but Lasell quickly responded as junior setter Patrick McDonald floored back-to-back aces to level the score. The Hawks managed to take control of the lead once again, grabbing a 10-6 cushion on a kill by senior middle blocker Christopher Husmann (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) before pushing a 5-1 spurt for a 16-7 gap. Coming out of a Lasell timeout, the Hawks kept up the pace as New Paltz stormed to a 24-12 lead on an 8-4 run, which was capped off by a Woessner service ace. The Lasers would grab two more points to cut the deficit to 24-14 but the Hawks took the set win on a final kill by sophomore outside hitter Anthony Bonilla (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz).

The Hawks jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the final set, prompting Lasell to call for an early timeout, but the Lasers would continue to fall behind as Norman and Bonilla each floored a kill for New Paltz, extending the gap to 11-3. Despite Lasell's efforts, New Paltz showed no sign of stopping as Woessner and freshman Eric Tuttle (Rochester, N.Y./West Irondequoit) both landed a kill to place the Hawks at a comfortable 19-9 cushion. The Hawks maintained a 10-point advantage over the Lasers throughout the rest of the set before sealing the 25-15 win on a Lasell attack error.

New Paltz hit. 524 in the first set, .611 in the second set and .522 to end the match with a .548 clip. (40-6-) and recorded 16 service aces.

Woessner hit. 700 (8-1-10) for the match while Husmann hit .727 (8-0-11), each recording eight kills. Fishman's 10 service aces marks a career-high and ties for sixth in the record books for aces in a three set match. Senior setter Christian Smith (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) dished out 35 assists while senior libero Kevin Nardone (Port Washington, N.Y./Paul D. Schreiber) defended four digs.

MacDonald and junior middle blocker Tristian Davis finished the match with six kills while libero/setter/defensive specialist Andrew Glenn tallied 19 assists and defended four digs.

New Paltz 3, Juniata 0
Both teams remained close in the start of the first set but Juniata gained the upperhand on a 4-0 run for an 8-4 edge. New Paltz managed to get the serve back and closed the gap to 9-8 on a Juniata attack error. The Hawks and the Eagles traded points before Woessner, Norman and Fishman floored a kill each to level the score, 16-all. New Paltz soon pulled ahead as Norman's heavy offensive attack landed three kills for the Hawks, forcing Juniata into a timeout. New Paltz pushed its lead to 24-20 but the Eagles rallied to take three points for a 24-23 margin. After a brief timeout by New Paltz, Bonilla delivered the set winning kill.

Several New Paltz errors placed Juniata ahead, 8-3, in the second set and forced the Hawks to call a quick timeout. Coming out of the break, the Eagles still maintained the lead but New Paltz managed to cut the score to 14-9 before pushing a 5-0 run, capped off by a Fishman kill, to tie up the score. After a back-and-forth battle with the lead, Bonilla and Husmann put up two block assists to place the Hawks at a 22-18 margin. Juniata managed to cut the deficit to 23-20 but two attack errors on the Eagles sealed the win for New Paltz.

The Hawks grabbed a quick 10-5 lead in the third set and kept up their offensive attack, pushing a 13-5 run for a 23-10 gap. Juniata took advantage of a New Paltz attack error to score one more point but Woessner floored back-to-back kills to close the set and secure the match win.

The Hawks hit over .500 in the first and third set to end the match with a .456 clip (47-11-79) while limiting the Eagles to a .164 clip (27-17-61).

Woessner concluded the match with a .812 clip (13-0-16) and floored 13 kills and three service aces. Norman tallied 15 kills and hit .520 (15-2-25). Bonilla defended four digs and three block assists while Husmann recorded five blocks (one solo, four assists). Smith dished out 37 assists in the victory.

Junior middle blocker Kyle Seeley totaled 11 kills to lead the Eagles while sophomore outside hitter Matt Vasinko notched six kills. Junior setter Quinn Looper doled out 24 assisits and defended five digs.

Norman was named to the Juniata Invitational All-Tournament team while Woesnner was tournament named MVP.