The State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team have its hands full this week with a match on Thursday night against perennial Division III powerhouse Springfield College, followed by a Friday evening match against Division I St. Francis College-Brooklyn.
 
Thursday evening's matchup is one that fans of Division III volleyball will have their eyes on — the continuing rivalry between the nation's No. 2 ranked DIII team, the powerful Springfield College Pride, and the homesteading New Paltz Hawks. Since the inception of Division III men's volleyball in 2002, the Hawks and Pride have played 22 times, with Springfield on top in 17 of those matches, but one of those wins for SUNY New Paltz came in the 2016 NCAA DIII semifinal that led to the Hawks first NCAA DIII championship.
 
The Pride bring an overall record of 15-1 into the Hawk Center. Springfield's lone loss was on March 1 to Lasell, 3-1. Last weekend the Pride breezed through matches against Elms College and Endicott College by identical 3-0 scores. 
 
Springfield, an 11-time national champion with its most recent title in 2018, is averaging 11.74 kills, 11.02 assists, 2.24 blocks, 2.23 service aces and 8.39 digs per set, while hitting at a .360 percentage.
 
The Pride is led by six AVCA All-Americans. Junior right side Jarrett Anderson (6'5, San Jose, CA), a 2021 First Team All-American, is averaging 3.45 kills per set and has totaled 38 service aces, 65 digs and 22 blocks. Senior outside hitter Brennen Brandow (6'4, Manorville, NY) was the AVCA Rookie of the Year in 2020 and a First Team All-American in 2021. He is averaging 3.23 kills per set, with 19 service aces, 61 digs and 21 blocks. Junior outside hitter Liam York (6'4, Kailua, HI), a 2020 Honorable Mention All-American, is averaging 3.07 kills per set and has 37 digs and 26 blocks. Senior middle blocker Nate Reynolds (6'8, Baltimore, MD) is averaging 1.48 kills per set and has a team-high 48 blocks. Graduate student libero/setter Matt Lilley (6'2, Stony Brook, NY), a 2020 Second Team All-American, leads the Pride with 485 assists. Graduate student middle blocker Chris Parker (6'5, East Northport, NY), another 2020 Second Team All-American, follows with 68 kills and 10 service aces.
 
Hard on the heels of Thursday's important match, the Hawks will take on the Terriers of St. Francis College-Brooklyn. St. Francis enters the match with an 8-6 record, with their latest win coming Tuesday night in a 3-1 decision over Division II Edward Waters College of Florida. Four of the Terriers eight wins have come against Division II competition. Friday's game will be the initial meeting between SUNY New Paltz and the St. Francis.
 
The Terriers are averaging 10 kills, 9.7 assists, 1.6 service aces, nine digs and 1.6 blocks per set and is hitting at a .234 pace. They have relied on six players for the bulk of their season: First-year middle blocker Andrea Lancianese (6'8, Turin, Italy) leads the team with 161 kills, junior outside hitter David Vorfi (6'4, Queens, NY) has a team high 32 service aces and is second on the team in kills with 127 to go along with 89 digs and 23 blocks. Sophomore setter Lucas Blanco (6'4, Miami, FL) is tops with 388 assists, as well as 13 service aces and 16 blocks, junior outside hitter/libero Nicola Iannelli (6'1, Fano, Italy) leads the team with 123 digs, junior outside hitter Bartek Zielinski (6'5, Warsaw, Poland) and junior middle blocker James Henneberry (6'7, Wildwood, MO) are tied for the lead in blocks with 25 a piece thus far this season.