Newark, N.J. (1/25/13) – Senior Steve Vahalla recorded a game-high 20 kills but it wasn't enough to get past Rutgers-Newark as the Kean University men's volleyball team fell in five sets in their 2013 season opener.
The Cougars, ranked 12th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Preseason Poll, fall to 0-1, while Rutgers-Newark, transitioning from Division I status, improves to 1-0.
Trailing 11-7 in the second set, the Cougars turned it around taking a 13-11 lead. With sophomore John Cunningham serving, Kean used two blocks and a service ace in the run. The Cougars would never trail for the remainder of the set and added another six point run to widen their advantage late in the set to help even the match at one-all.
Kean never trailed in the third set, allowing just one tie (5-5). Sophomore Mike Sheuermann and Vahalla (pictured left) each provided four kills in the set.
It was the Scarlet Raiders turn in the fourth set as they never trailed, with just one tie (1-1).
In the fifth and final set, Kean broke a two-all tie and sprinted out to a 6-2 lead behind back-to-back kills from Vahalla, a kill from sophomore Ed Jedziniak and a Rutgers-Newark error. Rutgers-Newark chipped away and forced six ties during the remainder of the set, including at points 12, 14 and 15. The Scarlet Raiders then won the match with two straight points to end the set.
Cunningham finished with 13 kills while libero Tom Kemmerle added 14 digs.
The Cougars don't waste any time and will face #1 Springfield College tomorrow afternoon in day two of the Golden Dome Classic.
