The State University of New York at New Paltz went 4-2 after its six-day trip to California and will try to get back into the national poll with a pair of wins on the weekend against Stevens and New Jersey City in Hoboken, NJ.
The tri-match, originally scheduled for Saturday, was moved to Sunday at 2:30 p.m. against the Gothic Knights and 5 p.m. against the hosting Ducks due to the pending winter storm.
"It certainly motivates us more, but it's not something that's going to be in our way," said SUNY New Paltz sophomore middle Pat Wing of dropping out of the national rankings. "We're going to continue working hard and prove to other people that we're worthy of being in the top15, which I know we're capable of doing. We're really not too worried about it."
On the West Coast, the Hawks participated in the annual UC Santa Cruz "Slug Classic." In their first match Jan. 14, SUNY New Paltz bested NAIA member Westcliff University 3-1. In their second match of the day, the Hawks fell in straight sets to Stevenson University (MD). They then opened the following day with a 3-0 win over host UC Santa Cruz, but fell in the nightcap 3-1 to California Lutheran University. Junior Pat Wing (Massapequa NY) was selected to the All-Tournament team. Three days later at Cal Lutheran, SUNY New Paltz got a measure of revenge with a 3-1 victory over the host Kingsmen, and in their final match of their West Coast trip, the Hawks defeated Hope International University, 3-1.
"I think as a team we played very well given that a lot of new chemistry was out there because many of our starters from last season graduated from college," Wing said. "It was the first time playing against other players in more than a year with COVID and everything so, I think given all those circumstances we did pretty well." 
Now back east, SUNY New Paltz resumes its 2022 season at the Stevens Institute Tri-Match Sunday afternoon. The Hawks open the day against the Gothic Knights at 2:30 p.m. They have a 17-0 match record against NJCU dating back to 2002. The Gothic Knights are currently 2-0 on the season, having easily defeated both Russell Sage and Bard College by 3-0 scores.
NJCU is led by senior outside hitter Jonathan Andrews (6'1, North Bergen, NJ) and first year middle hitter Mike McGehee (6'4, Avondale, AZ). Andrews, named NJAC Player of the Week, had 20 kills on 29 swings with three errors (.625), one block, one service ace and one dig against the Gators and had 14 kills on 21 swings with two errors (.571), along with seven digs and one service ace against the Raptors. McGehee, in his first two collegiate matches, had four kills on seven errorless swings (.571) with three blocks and four digs against Sage and four kills on six errorless swings (.557) with one service ace, one dig and three blocks against Bard. Senior setter Leo Ferrari (5'11, Kearny, NJ) totaled 52 assists against both teams, while junior middle blocker Brandon DaSilva (6'6', Kearny, NY) had six and eight kills, respectively, against Sage and Bard. Junior opposite James Bajor (6'3, Bayonne, NJ) leads the Gothic Knights with a total of nine service aces.
The day's final match will see the Hawks take on the AVCA's newly named eighth ranked team, the Ducks of Stevens Institute. Stevens holds a 16-13 edge over SUNY New Paltz, including earning a four-set win the last time the two teams met Feb. 21, 2020.
Stevens currently holds a record of 3-0, with 3-0 shutout wins over Lasell (MA) and St Joseph's (LI) and an exciting 3-2 upset over defending DIII national champions Carthage College (WI). The Ducks have been led by two MAC Players of the Week, graduate student outside hitter Jack Fydo (6'6, Park Ridge, IL) and junior opposite Nathan Lancia (6'5, Galloway, OH). Fydo earned Offensive Player of the Week honors after totaling 18 kills, two blocks, one service ace and nine digs against Lasell and St. Joseph's, while Lancia was honored for his match heroics against AVCA No. 1 Carthage, with nine kills, 16 digs, three blocks and two service aces against the Firebirds. Also tops for the Ducks is junior setter Louden Moran (6'2, Joliet, IL) with 96 assists, six service aces and eight blocks in three matches; junior middle hitter Connor Feulner (6'5, Orlando, FL) has a team-high 16 blocks along with 21 kills.
"We're expecting them both to be very good teams," Wing said. "We're a good team, so we're excited to play them. It should be a good weekend, good competition and they're going to be good so we need to come ready to go."
The Hawks, sporting a 4-2 season record, are in the midst of a nine-match road sojourn, have been led by a cadre of experienced players. Junior middle blocker Pat Wing (6'4, Massapequa, NY) leads the team with 75 points, 56 kills, 19 blocks and is second with seven service aces. Senior outside hitter Chris Shanley (6'6, Massapequa, NY) has 60.5 points, with 53 kills, 37 digs and seven blocks. Senior setter Cam Clark (6'0, Farmington, NY) paces SUNY New Paltz with 119 assists with 17 digs. Senior outside hitter Brendan Spulnick (6'4, Clifton Park, NY) is tops with 12 service aces, to go along with 56 points, 37 kills, 26 digs and 10 blocks. Senior libero Dan LaRosa (6'0, Lake Groves leads the Hawks with 48 digs, while senior middle blocker John Ronan (6'6, Massapequa, NY) leads with 12 blocks.
"We have potential. We have good energy. We got to work harder because we're clearly not as good as we think we are, but I think if we bring our best game and work every day in the gym we can compete with anyone in the country," Wing added.
SUNY New Paltz's final road match of the current stand is Feb. 2 in Glenside, PA against Arcadia University. The Hawks open their 2022 home season with a tri-match featuring Ramapo College (NJ) and SUNY Poly Feb. 5 in the Hawk Center.
Pat Wing Interview
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