2 Days, 2 Top-Five Opponents, 2 wins for Men’s Volleyball

(Nashua, New Hampshire) What a crazy 24 hours it has been for the 2014 Rivier University Men's Volleyball team. About 22 hours removed from an unbelievable win over top ranked Springfield College, the Raiders dug deep and battled back from a 2-1 deficit to edge #5 Baruch College in five sets this morning in the 2014 Live Free or Die Invitational at the Muldoon Gymnasium.

Final scores of the games were 23-25, 25-21, 20-25, 25-19 and 15-11.

Rivier (3-0 overall) was led by senior Terence Matatall (Danville, NH) who laced 15 kills over the five sets. Senior Aaron Almarion (Alhambria, CA) added 12 kills with 7 total blocks and junior Chris Markuson (Cupertino, CA) also had 12 kills – including the game winner in the fifth set. Junior Shane Spellman (Norwich, Conn.) registered a .444 hitting percentage as he finished with 10 kills. Senior Matt Bynon (Burnt Hills, NY) was the defensive star with 16 digs and freshman Tyler Blank (Rochester, NY) recorded 50 of the team's 52 assists (Bynon had the other two).

Baruch, who suffered their first loss of the season, saw junior Jack McGee (Bay Shore, NY) dish out a game high 23 kills and a .429 hitting percentage. Sophomore Brady Ambro (Northport, NY) knocked down 14 kills of his own while junior Chris Kaimis (Dix Hills, NY) chipped in with 10 kills for the Bearcats. Sophomore Scott Standring (Moraga, CA) had 46 assists and 6 digs in the five set contest which also saw sophomore Brendan Murphy (Plainview, NY) pickup 14 digs.

The 2014 Live Free or Die Invitational will wrap up this afternoon as Baruch will take on Endicott College before the Raiders look for the weekend sweep in the third and final game of Invitational against Endicott.