Box Score

The eighth-ranked New York University men's volleyball team fell in three sets to #7 SUNY New Paltz in United Volleyball Conference (UVC) action on Tuesday, February 26, at the Coles Sports Center in Manhattan.
 
The Hawks (12-4) earned the sweep 25-21, 25-20, 26-24 in a tightly-contested match. The result brought both teams' UVC record to 5-2. Coupled with #9 Medaille College's sweep of D'Youville College, NYU fell from third place in the conference into a tie for fourth with New Paltz.
 
Highlights
 
- Nick Benson led all players with 14 kills. He added a team-leading five digs and two blocks.
 
- Nick Capriccio had a solid performance in the middle, putting down eight kills on 12 swings (.583 hitting percentage) and adding three blocks.
 
- Connor Mortland doled out 30 assists from the setter position to go along with five digs, three blocks and three kills. Keith Waddell and Phil Bueno added five kills apiece.
 
- Christopher Husmann paced the Hawks with 13 kills and two blocks. Tim Ferriter added 10 kills, six digs and two service aces, while Kevin Nardone recorded a match-best nine digs.
 
- The teams put up similar numbers in most statistical categories, with the Violets even owning a 7-4 advantage in blocking, but NYU was done in by its serving. The squad had 16 service errors in the three sets, its worst per game number of the season.
 
“It was a really, really tight match,” said Head Coach Jose Pina. “We have been an excellent serving team this season, but tonight we had a bad serving match. Plus, New Paltz played great floor defense and was able to convert off their digs, something we were unable to do.”
 
“The guys will learn a lot from this one,” he added. “We should get much better if we make the proper adjustments.”
 
The Violets are idle for 10 days before returning to the court on Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10, for the UVC Crossover #2 at New Paltz. They will open with D'Youville at 11:00 am on March 9.