Box Score vs. Nazareth
Box Score vs. Hunter
Senior setter Ilan Goldstein set the career rally-scoring assists record and senior captain Devin Zolnowski surpassed 1,000 kills for his career as the New York University men's volleyball team went 1-1 on the second day of the Stevens Institute of Technology Invitational.
In their first match-up vs. Hunter since 1999, the Violets picked up their first win of the season, defeating the Hawks in five sets in their second match of the day at the Walker Gymnasium on the campus of the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ.
The Violets (1-5), currently ranked sixth in the Bison/AVCA Division III Top 15 Coaches Poll, traded points early on with the Hawks (3-5) with neither team taking a significant advantage. After a 13-13 tie, Hunter opened a four-point advantage with a 6-2 run. The Hawks continued to hold that lead through 29-25. However a kill by Zolnowski changed the momentum as the Violets reeled off the next five points, holding the Hawks at 29 as a service ace by Goldstein gave NYU the first set 31-29.
In the second set Hunter jumped ahead early, taking a 13-9 lead into a NYU timeout. When play resumed, Hawks built their lead to five and held it the rest of the way. The Violets never came closer than two the rest of the way as Hunter the match with a 30-27 win.
The third set saw everything click for NYU. After dropping the first point on an attack error, the Violets took 10 of the next 13 points to open a 10-4 lead. After a Hunter timeout at 16-7, NYU continued its onslaught, building its lead to 14 at 24-10 off of a kill from junior Francis Hodgson. The Hawks managed to pull within 24-13, but NYU finished the job with a 6-1 run to take the set 30-14.
The Violets were not able to carry their momentum over from the third set into the fourth as Hunter quickly opened a 12-5 lead. The Hawks continued to build their lead to 20-11, which led to an NYU timeout. The timeout momentarily rejuvenated the Violets, as they brought the deficit to within six at 22-16. NYU continued to use its late momentum to bring the score to within two at 24-22. However, that would be as close as they would come as Hunter took the next two points on its way to a 30-26 victory.
In the fifth and deciding set, the Violets came out swinging. The team opened a four-point lead at 7-3 off of kills from five different Violets. Going into the side switch at 8-4, NYU was in complete control. Hunter got within three points on three occasions, but were never able to come any closer as the Violets took the deciding set 15-10.
Goldstein, who recorded his 2,302 career assist midway through the fourth set, put up 64 in the match, tying a career-high he set earlier in the season. Goldstein now has 2,317 career assists and ranks third in assists per set during the rally-scoring era with 11.19. He also added six blocks, four aces and eight digs in the match to lead NYU.
Also strong on offense was Zolnowski, who put down a match-high 24 kills while adding 11 digs for his first double-double of the season.
Hodgson was a force at the net for the Violets, recording 18 kills while hitting .448 with seven blocks to lead a Violets blocking group that turned back Hunter 15.5 times.
Freshman Jay Hayes put up double-digit digs for the second time on the day and the fourth time this season, recording 10 while also passing a perfect 32 for 32.
For the Hawks, Zacarias Ripoll came just short of recording a triple-double, recording 15 kills, 25 assists and seven digs. Jerin Kallickal also recorded a double-double for Hunter, putting down 13 kills while adding a team-high 12 digs.
In the Violets first match of the day, the team faced off again Nazareth College for the first time in program history, dropping the contest 3-1.
Despite the loss, Zolnowski recorded a personal milestone, putting down the 1,000th kill of his career early in the third set, becoming the fourth NYU player to reach that plateau during the rally-scoring era. Zolnowski finished with a game-high 23 kills in the match and currently sits at 1,0135 kills in his career.
Overall on offense, the Violets put down 49 kills and hit .171, while the Golden Flyers notched 66 kills and hit .380.
On the defensive side of the ball, Hayes recorded double-digit digs, putting up 11.
For the Golden Flyers, senior Joe Petzoldt recorded 17 kills while hitting .519 with seven digs. Fellow senior Frank Leahy put up 55 assists along with eight digs and three blocks.
The Violets return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 27, when they host the New Jersey Institute of Technology at the Coles Sports Center. Match time is set for 7:00 pm.
