Union, NJ — The State University of New York New Paltz opened its 2026 campaign Wednesday night on the road against Kean University and headed home with a 3-1 victory (25-21, 25-18, 25-27, 25-20).

The Hawks dominated the first two sets with Nikko Tenedorio hitting above .600 in the opening stanza. The reigning AVCA National Newcomer of the Year ultimately led all hitters with 27 kills and 18.5 points, while hitting a productive .448 and adding two assists, an ace, a block and nine digs. Daniel Shanley played a huge role in the win, as the senior co-captain was all over the floor as he totaled a game-high 42 assists, five aces, 12 digs and two blocks.
 
Freshman John Giotis got the nod for the start at outside for SUNY New Paltz and he came through with five total kills, all coming in the first two sets. He, along with sophomore middle Peter Brutschin and junior opposite Michael Spiegel, helped set the tone at the net, as the Cougars struggled early getting past the Hawks block. They tallied just eight kills in the first and hit .136 on 22 attempts.
 
Tenedorio's work in the front row allowed him to score a point on a two-handed kill to push the score to 14-9 in the first. He served out on the next point, but Giotis allowed SUNY New Paltz to side-out as he swung for a kill off a set from Shanley, which started a five-point run that allowed the visitors to take a comfortable, 19-10 lead. Matt Teplansky got the Hawks a point away from set point, as he found the empty spot in the back corner of the floor to extend the advantage, 23-18 with Shanley notching set point on the following play with an ace. Artair Kayser subbed in for Brutschin in the middle and officially sealed the 1-0 lead, swinging hard for a kill to close out a 25-18 set one victory.
 
 
SUNY New Paltz held an early lead to start set two, which extended to 18-11 and 19-12 after kills on consecutive swings from Giotis sustained a seven-point cushion. Kean showed some life after a great hustle play saved a ball in the bleachers off a hard swing from senior middle Mike Handell. The play resulted in an eventual point for the hosts, which sparked some momentum as they closed the gap to 23-18 down the stretch. Shanely went to Spiegel on the right side who swung for set point before an attacking error sealed the set, 25-21 in favor of the Hawks who grabbed a 2-0 advantage.  
However, the momentum carried into the third set for the hosts who got out to an early lead in the third. After SUNY New Paltz established an 11-7 advantage, the Cougars rallied to get back in front, 14-11 thanks to a 7-0 run. The Hawks stormed back with a 6-0 run, as Shanley was the catalyst serving through the stretch where he registered two aces, an assist and forced two attacking errors to lift his team, 19-15 over Kean. Tenedorio connected on a swing to bring the score to 23-19, but the Cougars stayed resilient and scored five-straight to earn set point. The two teams traded points until a kill from the hosts solidified an extended third set, 27-25 and forced a fourth period of play.
 
SUNY New Paltz regrouped in the fourth, determined to walk away with the season opening victory. Max DeBonis laid out for a ball to register a dig, which led to a kill from Geoff Ndoria that grabbed the Hawks an 11-8 lead, resulting in a timeout by the hosts. The stoppage was all for not, as SUNY New Paltz stayed in front the rest of the way. Spiegel won a joist at the net to push the score 13-10 before swinging for a kill off a set from Ndoria to extend 14-11. Spiegel kept the ball in his hands as he served the following point, which led to a monster solo block by Kayser in the middle to fatten his team's cushion.
 
Tenedorio brought SUNY New Paltz two points away from the win, soaring from the back row to smash a kill to create a 23-18 difference. Handell and Spiegel then created match point as the duo registered a block on the right side. The Cougars then sealed the game as they served into the net, finalizing the 25-20 fourth and 3-1 victory.
 
The Hawks were dominant, holding the advantage in points (75-54), kills (55-40), aces (8-3), blocks (12-11), assist (54-37) and hitting percentage (.250-.125).
 
Spiegel was the only other Hawk in double-digit kills, registering 12 while hitting .300 on the night, adding an ace, four blocks, two digs and 15.5 points. Giotis finished with five kills on six attempts and a block for 7.5 points, followed by Ndoria and Kayser who each had seven points on the night.
 
No. 13 nationally ranked SUNY New Paltz is back in action this weekend as it enters the Juniata Invitational, competing against the hosting Eagles Friday night, along with Eastern Mennonite and Widener University Saturday.
 
 
******************
To stay up to date with everything #NPHawks be sure to follow us on Twitter at @nphawks, Instagram and Facebook at @newpaltzhawks, and subscribe to our Youtube channel, New Paltz Hawks.