Box Score New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team (18-6 overall, 7-0 UVC) swept Ramapo College (11-12) Monday night at the Hawk Center.
 
The Hawks ran over the Roadrunners taking the match in three straight sets (25-19, 25-23, 25-16), with SUNY New Paltz in command the whole way. SUNY New Paltz now prepares to face No. 4 nationally ranked Stevens Institute of Technology (21-2, 7-1 UVC) Wednesday with the chance to host the United Volleyball Conference Championship with a win.
 
In the first set against Ramapo, the Hawks took an early lead, as their experienced outside hitters, senior Nick Smith and junior Aaron Carrk, looked in sync with junior setter Matt Grace. The Roadrunners stayed within touching distance at 22-18, but senior captain Bradley Schneider spiked the ball off a block to push SUNY New Paltz ahead 23-18 before a missed serve by Ramapo gifted the Hawks the set, 25-19. 
 
The second set sparked a response by the Roadrunners, but with the score at 13-12, Carrk hammered a kill and Schneider followed it up with his sixth kill of the match. Two missed serves by Ramapo helped the Hawks gain an 18-15 lead, but the Roadrunners came right back to make it a two point set. Ramapo then tied the game at 22-22 thanks to some mistakes by SUNY New Paltz. Schneider came up clutch to give his team the lead at 23-22, spurring the Hawks to win the set.
 
"It was fun playing back and forth and keeping a close game. It's a good lead up into what Wednesday will be like," said Hawks junior Robert Nolan.
 
In the third set SUNY New Paltz immediately went on a 6-0 run, which was capped off with a kill by Smith, as the Roadrunners looked deflated. Freshman Dan LaRosa had an ace to put the Hawks up 15-9 as they strolled to a win in front of their home fans.
 
Now SUNY New Paltz looks to defeat its United Volleyball Conference (UVC) rival for a chance to host the tournament.
 
"It's gonna be a great atmosphere. There's gonna be some high level volleyball," Nolan said. "We have to keep up our high tempo offense because it's gonna be a shootout. I can't wait to play."
 
The Hawks face the Stevens Institute of Technology on the road Wednesday at 7 p.m.

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