Union, N.J. (2/5/13) – The Kean University men's volleyball team pushed past Purchase College in straight sets in Skyline Conference action on Tuesday evening.
The Cougars (4-3, 2-1 Skyline) are currently ranked 15th in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Top 15 and were led by sophomore Ed Jedziniak with 12 kills and a .444 attack percentage.
The loss drops Purchase to 1-4 this season and 1-2 in conference play. The Panthers were led by junior Kevon Kareem Bruce who had a team-high five kills as well as five digs.
The Cougars cruised to a 25-9 win in the opening set. Rookie Krzysztof Kucza and senior Steve Vahalla each served for five straight points in the set. Kean found themselves trailing early in the second set, down by two on two separate occasions, but a kill from sophomore Mike Scheuermann tied the match up at six-all and Vahalla used a long run at the service line to push the Cougars ahead, 13-6. Kean then paced the remainder of the set, winning by the final of 25-15.
The Panthers kept pace in the third set, taking the lead and tying the set on several occasions. With the set tied at 22-all an attack error gave the Cougars the lead for good and Kean closed out the set using a kill from Jedziniak (pictured left) and an ace from rookie Josh Haimann to put away the win.
Sophomore Alex Barnhard recorded 13 assists, while Vahalla tallied four aces in limited action. In all, 13 Cougars saw action in the contest.
Kean returns to Skyline action on next Tuesday, February 12th when they host New Jersey City University at 7:30 p.m.
