Newark, NJ — The State University of New York New Paltz won its fourth-straight Friday night, earning a 3-1 victory over hosting Rutgers-Newark (25-17, 27-25, 25-27, 25-23).
 
The Hawks improved to 4-5 overall with the victory, while the Raiders dropped to 4-3 overall.
 
Rutgers-Newark totaled more kills (54-37) but SUNY New Paltz was more efficient offensively, hitting .264 compared to .207 by the Raiders with the Hawks totaling a season-high 16 blocks to help stymy the hosts offense on the night.
 
SUNY New Paltz got out to a 17-8 lead in the first and ultimately held set point at 24-16 following a serving error with Rutgers-Newark handing the win over to the Hawks with another service error a point later to close out the first, 25-17.
 
The second stanza was tighter with SUNY New Paltz holding an 18-14 lead down the stretch thanks to a kill by Krish Jain followed by a block by Nikko Tenedorio. A 5-0 run got the Raiders back in the set, tying the score at 20-20 with a service error putting an end to the stretch. The period was tied at 21-, and 22-all before the Hawks secured set point following a kill by Geoff Ndoria and a block by Daniel Shanley and Mike Handell. Rutgers-Newark countered with two-straight points before the team's exchanged serves that forced the set into extra points. Shanley set Tenedorio who slammed a kill to push his team back to set point. Shanley then closed on a 2-0 lead for SUNY New Paltz, acing on the next point to win the set, 27-25.
 
The third set also went into extra points. The Hawks held a 17-13 advantage but the Raiders answered with a 5-0 run to get in front, 18-17. From there, the score was tied seven times, including at 24 and 25-all with a service error by SUNY New Paltz and a hitting error giving Rutgers-Newark the win to extend the match to a fourth set.
 
The fourth also went back-and-forth as it saw 16 different lead changes and the score tied seven times. Tenedorio swung for another kill off a set by Shanley and fittingly, the match ended on a double block by the Hawks' Tenedorio and Jain to seal the 25-23 win.
 
Tenedorio was the catalyst in the victory, totaling a game-high 14 kills and 20 points, hitting .258 with three aces, five blocks and three digs. Jain followed as he produced seven kills and 11.5 points with a solo block and seven assisted blocks for a game-high eight blocks. Shanley facilitated the offense and finished with 30 assists with two aces, a block and six digs.
 
SUNY New Paltz is back in action Feb. 6, going on the road to face perennial program and No. 7 nationally ranked Springfield at 7 p.m.


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