Men's Volleyball splits final day at Kean Invitational

(Union, New Jersey) After besting #11 Baruch College in four sets last night, the Rivier University Men's Volleyball team returned to action in day two of the Kean University Invitational. The Raiders would split their pair of games this morning; suffering a three set loss to #6 Stevens Institute of Technology and then finishing the Invitational with a four set win over Kean University.

Game One: #6 Stevens Institute of Technology 3, Rivier University 0 (Final)

The Raiders were blanked by Stevens in the final day's opening match in straight sets by scores of 25-15, 25-19 and 25-19.

Junior Ian Wolski (Westfield, Mass.) laced down a team high 9 kills and senior Mike Hadder (Yucaipa, Calif.) added eight kills in the three set loss. Juniors Tyler Blank (Rochester, N.Y.) and Matt LaSance (Madison, Conn.) combined for 28 assists, 18 and 10 respectively. Wolski was the dig leader with six and senior Mike Hovnanian (Methuen, Mass.) chipped in with five.

Stevens saw Gabe Shankweiler smack down 12 kills and a .476 hitting percentage as Chris Vaughan contributed with 13 kills and a .435 hitting percentage in the win. Scott Russell passed out 20 assists and Jacob Patterson added 11 assists.

Game Two: Rivier University 3, Kean University 1 (Final)

Rivier battled back in the final game as they were able to shake off the loss to Stevens and earn a tough four set win over Kean University. The Raiders improved to 3-2 on the season with scores of 27-25, 25-23, 22-25 and 25-18.

Sophomore Grant Andler (Chicago, Ill.) paced the offensive attack for Rivier with a career high, 20 kills and 11 digs. Wolski continued his day with 14 kills and sophomore Matt Heckler (Simi Valley, Calif.) added in nine kills and a .444 hitting percentage. Junior Tyler Blank (Rochester, N.Y.) notched another 40+ assist afternoon as he finished with 47 and senior Nick Ochoa (Whittier, Calif.) collected 19 digs along the back line. Sophomore Garrett Bucklin (Jamestown, R.I.) had a solid afternoon with 7 kills and 11 digs.

Kean was led by Shayron Taylor who had 17 kills and Jacob Kauffman added another 11 kills in the loss. Kevin Barrow dished out 32 assists and Nick Breslin led the defensive effort with 9 digs.

Rivier will return to the Muldoon Gymnasium this weekend as they host the "Live Free or Die" Invitational. On Saturday evening they will entertain Massachusetts Institute of Technology (4:30pm) before squaring off with Sage College (11am) and Endicott College on Super Bowl Sunday.