Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Arlington, Va. – The State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team made a dramatic 5-set comeback over Stevenson University in the opening match of their tri-match at No. 14 Marymount University. They took out the Mustangs with a score of 19-25, 28-30, 25-23, 26-24, 15-6, but with an injury-plagued roster the Hawks were running on empty in their next match against the host and dropped a three-set decision 17-25, 21-25, 22-25.
 
Following a disappointing three-set loss two days before to Eastern Mennonite University, SUNY New Paltz was staring down yet another sweep after dropping a rollercoaster second set 28-30. The Hawks led late in set two 22-21 after a Bradley Schneider kill, but a three-point run for Stevenson gave them two set points up 24-22. Another Schneider kill and a mini-service run from Mitchell Kennedy saved the set points and gave SUNY New Paltz a set point of their own. Stevenson quickly erased the set point and eventually pulled out the set 30-28 to take a two sets to none lead.
 
With their backs against the wall, Tevin Skeete and Aaron Carrk gave the Hawks some early momentum in set three with two blocks in the first three points. SUNY New Paltz trailed only once in the set at 5-6, and managed to keep a slight lead for the majority of the set. After dropping their first set point up 24-22, head coach Radu Petrus called timeout to settle the team and make sure they got a good look at siding out and forcing the fourth set. Sophomore setter Matthew Grace set up Skeete for the kill out of the middle and the Hawks stayed alive for another set.
 
The fourth set was not going well for SUNY New Paltz as they trailed most of the way and at 14-18 they needed to make a run. A Landon Shorts service error from the Mustangs got the rally started for the Hawks and Nick Smith tied up the set at 18-18 after a three-point serving run. After trading points with Stevenson the score was knotted up at 24-24 and Smith once again stepped up in the clutch for SUNY New Paltz with back-to-back kills to force a fifth and deciding set.
 
All the momentum was with the Hawks heading into the final set and they never gave Stevenson a chance, smothering them to a 15-6 victory to complete the two sets down comeback.
 
Grace and Kennedy ran the two-setter offense efficiently for SUNY New Paltz as they recorded 31 and 29 assists, respectively. Ryan Cole and Skeete were cutting the ball around the block easily throughout the match as they notched the top hitting percentages on the day with .563 and .417, respectively. Cole was also third on the team in total kills as he tallied 12, while Skeete put up seven of his own.
 
Smith was fed the most on the outside with 31 attempts and 15 kills, while Carrk was close behind with 27 attempts and 14 kills. Bradley Schneider and Kennedy rounded out the top offensive performers with seven and five kills, respectively.
 
Sophomore libero Robert Nolan led the back line with 11 digs while Smith dug his way to a double-double with 10 digs of his own, and Grace wasn't far behind with 9.
 
The Hawks were most efficient on offense when it mattered most recording 14 kills on 23 attempts with only three errors in set four for a .478 hitting percentage and then followed it up with a dominant performance in the fifth set recording nine kills on 14 attempts with only one error.
 
The comeback over Stevenson took a lot out of the Hawks and already down a couple players due to injury, it was going to be a difficult task to get right back on the court and take on No. 14 Marymount University.
 
SUNY New Paltz was trading points early on in the opening set, but a few serving runs for the Saints gave them a 16-10 lead, which was too much for the Hawks to mount a comeback against.
 
Down 10-5 in set two it looked like it might be a similar story, but a T.J. Wiechecki service error allowed Grace to step up to the line and run three consecutive points to get SUNY New Paltz back within one. However, they gave the lead right back to Marymount and trailed 14-9 midway through the set. Later on a Nick Smith service ace brought it back to four points and then an attacking error from the Saints gave the Hawks some life only down 16-19, but they weren't able to complete the comeback and fell 21-25.
 
Down two sets to none again, SUNY New Paltz was going to need another miraculous comeback to sweep the day. Trailing 14-19 late in the set another Petrus timeout rallied the team and they were able to cut the lead to 18-20 after a Carrk kill. Unfortunately, it was too little too late and the Hawks dropped the set and the match to the Saints.
 
Ryan Cole highlighted the offense once again as he notched six kills on nine attempts with two errors for a .444 hitting percentage, while Smith tallied a team-high seven kills. Kennedy and Grace racked up 12 and nine assists, respectively.
 
The Hawks have a chance to rest and make some adjustments before their next match on Jan. 31 at Ramapo College at 7:00 p.m. The road trip to open their season will continue through mid-February as their home opener isn't until Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 7:00 p.m. against SUNY Polytechninc.