New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team (6-0) defeated the Kean University Cougars (1-6) Friday night, 3-0 (25-20, 25-16, 25-23), in its home opener at the Hawk Center.

"It felt great to get the first home game out of the way. We've all been anticipating it," said Hawks senior opposite Aaron Carrk. "We all came to play our best ball."

SUNY New Paltz immediately started hot in the first set, taking a 5-1 lead and building momentum as Kean struggled to keep the ball in play early. The Cougars couldn't find their rhythm either and recorded a .062 hitting percentage at the midway point of the set, at 14-9 for the Hawks. 

Kean fought back and came within one point at 17-16 following a block by Jonathan Meyer. SUNY New Paltz then managed to push up, 21-18 with a kill by senior outside hitter Riley Dolan, which forced a time-out by the Cougars. The Hawks successively took the set 25-20, with sophomores Brendan Spulnick and John Ronan tallying six and three kills respectively, and both recording a block.

The second set began in a similar way, with SUNY New Paltz commanding the set at 5-2, and Spulnick continuing to get kills assisted by senior captain Matthew Grace. The Hawks increased their lead to 10-4 thanks to two consecutive aces by Carrk, and another ace by senior middle blocker Nick O'Malley doubled the score at 18-9, forcing a Cougar time-out.
 

SUNY New Paltz earned the second set 25-16, with the Hawks using all their firepower from the bench, hitting .393 percent and keeping the Cougars to just a .080 hitting percentage

In the third set Kean tried to get one back, but SUNY New Paltz stayed composed. The beginning of the set was a lot of back and forth, as the Cougars took an early 4-2 lead through good defense and some handling mistakes by the Hawks. Spulnick recorded his 10th kill to tie the set at six before the Hawks took back the lead at 11-8 with Carrk tallying two quick kills and sophomore Dan LaRosa serving an ace.

"If there's one thing this team is used too," added Carrk, "is that we're used to being down in set. We've learned how to overcome that from last year and don't get those jitters anymore." 

Kean clawed back and tied the score at 13 thanks to an attack error by Dolan. SUNY New Paltz maintained a slim lead at 18-17, as every point was earned. The Cougars managed to tie the set at 20-20, as O'Malley committed a dig error before bouncing right back with a kill to put the Hawks up one. Carrk followed that with two kills to go up 24-22 and eventually win the set 25-23.

Carrk finished the game as kills leader with 15, followed by Spulnick with 13.

SUNY New Paltz faces local rival Vassar College in their first UVC matchup next on Feb. 5 at the Hawks Center.