The State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team (5-0) faces Kean University (1-4) in its first home matchup of the 2020 season. The 2019 NCAA Champions will get their first taste of the Hawk Center this year, and SUNY New Paltz can't wait to rile up its fans and bring home a 3-0 sweep.

"The way we don't get complacent is to know we're the number one team in the nation," said Hawks sophomore serving specialist, Dan LaRosa. "Our best game will beat a lot of other teams' best games. We know we have that target on our back."
The Hawks are ranked No. 1 in the nation, and that just means they have to work harder, knowing everyone will be after their title. They are keeping opponents to a .193 hitting percentage at the moment, and have yet to commit any ball handling errors, while also averaging 1.5 aces per set.

"To get that sweep [Friday] we have to come in here, have a good time, and play together with high energy," LaRosa continued. "Hopefully we get a lot of fans out here for our first home match, and get some energy off of them for a quick sweep."

SUNY New Paltz coach Radu Petrus wanted his team to focus on earning a swift victory in the matchup with the Cougars, and expects everyone to be locked in, knowing that the opposition won't just concede an easy game. 

Talking about how to avoid making easy mistakes, LaRosa said, "You know the guys behind you. If you make a mistake they got your back, and you just gotta push forward." 

The Hawks have a deep bench and know they can rely on their subs to bring a spark to the game when needed, and that the guys should trust each other to step up. SUNY New Paltz is playing well together as a team, as demonstrated by their 12.1 assists per set, compared to the opposition's 8.9.

"When we say match point in practice, we know whether it's the first or last, each point is worth the same, so we have to play with the same intensity and energy," LaRosa added. 

The Hawks want to have some urgency about their game and be able to shut down other teams quickly, taking them out of their game. Trying to work on in-game situations in practice is a way to get mentally prepared for moments where split-second decisions need to be made, and players have to adapt quickly to opposing teams.

The Hawks tip-off against Kean University at 7 p.m. on Friday for their opener at the Hawk Center.

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