NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier University men's volleyball team, ranked number one in the latest AVCA Division III Men's Poll, opened its home schedule with a 3-1 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play Wednesday night at Muldoon Gymnasium.
With the win the Raiders improve to 5-0 (1-0 GNAC) and run their conference win streak to 35 games, while the Leopards suffer their first loss of the season, falling to 7-1 (1-1).
The Raiders jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a 25-19 and 25-23 wins before the Leopards cut the lead to 2-1 with a 25-18 win. The win in the third set was the first set the Wentworth had taken from Rivier since March 25, 2003, snapping a 50-set losing streak.
Junior Chris Markuson (Cupertino, Calif.) led the attack for Rivier as he laced 15 kills and registered a remarkable .636 hitting percentage. Senior Aaron Almario (Alhambria, Calif.) added 11 kills and a .625 hitting percentage while junior Cam Phegley-Walker (Los Angeles, Calif.) had a solid night with seven kills and a .417 hitting percentage. Freshman setter Tyler Blank (Rochester, N.Y.) added 42 assists to his terrific start to 2014 and senior libero Matt Bynon (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) was the defensive star with 11 digs.
Wentworth saw both freshmen Jake Reed (Arvada, Colo.) and Alex Potts (Niverville, N.Y.) reach the double-digit mark in kills as they had 13 and 11, respectively. Potts finished the night with a .556 hitting percentage. Senior Ross Burdett (Needham, Mass.) added eight kills in the loss with freshman Collin Ritter (Feeding Hills, Mass.) recording 38 assists. Sophomore Zach Newhouse (Lancaster, Calif.) had a team high of seven digs.
Rivier competes at the Springfield Invitational this weekend, facing a pair of nationally ranked foes in New Paltz and Springfield. Wentworth hosts 11th-ranked MIT and CCNY in a non-conference tri-match on Saturday.
(Portions of this recap courtesy of Rivier Sports Information)
June 4, 2014
Two Named to GNAC All-Academic Team
April 19, 2014
Men's Volleyball Captures First ECAC Crown
April 15, 2014
Seven From Men's Volleyball Earn All-GNAC Honors
April 14, 2014
Men's Volleyball Selected to Play in ECAC Tournament
April 10, 2014
Emmanuel Edges Men's Volleyball in GNAC Semifinals
April 7, 2014
Donahue, Pisker Earn GNAC Honors
April 5, 2014
Men's Volleyball Upsets Rivier, Defeats Anna Maria
April 3, 2014
Men's Volleyball Ends Drought Against Emmanuel
April 1, 2014
Men's Volleyball Wins Seventh Straight
March 30, 2014
Men's Volleyball Sets Single-Season Win Mark
March 27, 2014
Men's Volleyball Cruises to Fourth Straight Win
March 27, 2014
Men's Volleyball Earns First-Ever NCAA Regional Ranking
March 25, 2014
Men's Volleyball Wins Third Straight
March 24, 2014
Ritter Named GNAC Rookie of the Week
March 20, 2014
Men's Volleyball Edged at Emmanuel
March 18, 2014
Men's Volleyball Sweeps Past Mount Ida
March 15, 2014
Men's Volleyball Concludes Play at JWU Invitational
March 14, 2014
Men's Volleyball Splits at Johnson & Wales
March 7, 2014
Giglio Honored With AVCA's Thirty Under 30 Award
March 1, 2014
Men's Volleyball Drops Two Matches
February 26, 2014
Men's Volleyball Runs Win Streak to Five
February 24, 2014
Ritter Named GNAC Rookie of the Week
February 22, 2014
Men's Volleyball Sweeps Tri-Match
February 20, 2014
Men's Volleyball Captures Second Straight Win
February 15, 2014
Men's Volleyball Splits Home Tri-Match
February 12, 2014
Men's Volleyball Suffers First Loss of Season
February 10, 2014
Pisker Named GNAC Rookie of the Week
February 8, 2014
Men's Volleyball Runs Win Streak to Seven
February 4, 2014
Men's Volleyball Cruises Past Newbury
January 29, 2014
Men's Volleyball Opens GNAC Play Win Over Emerson
January 24, 2014
Men's Volleyball Opens With Two Wins
January 24, 2014
Men's Volleyball Set to Open 2014 Campaign