Union, N.J. (3/23/13) – The Kean University men's volleyball team avenged two losses from the 2012 season as they topped Hunter College in straight sets and a hard fought 3-2 win over#4 Juniata College in the nightcap.
The Cougars (18-7) were 20, 20, 19 winners over Hunter in the opener. Kean last faced the Hawks (10-10) in the inaugural NCAA Division III Tournament last April where Hunter came out on top, 3-1. Hunter then squared off against Juniata in the second match of today's action as the Eagles took the match, 3-1 (25-19, 22-25, 25-11, 29-27). Juniata (18-8) matched up against Kean almost a year ago to the day and pushed past the Cougars in straight sets in 2012. This year's result was a bit different as the Eagles took the first set, 29-27, before falling behind in sets two and three, 25-20, 25-19. Juniata turned it around in set four (25-12) before Kean pulled through in the final set, 15-10.
Senior Steve Vahalla led the way for Kean in the opener as he tallied a match-high 14 kills (.458 attack percentage) and team-high seven digs. He also added two aces, two assists and two blocks. Sophomore Kyle Farley added six kills on seven swings (.714 hitting percentage) with four total blocks. Sophomore Alex Barnhard recorded 23 assists with three blocks, four digs and two kills.
The nightcap featured an all out battle from the beginning. Set one featured numerous ties, with no team leading by more than five. With Kean one point away for a set one win (24-21), Juniata found a way to knot the match at 24-all, with two kills coming from sophomore Alex McClogin. The Cougars would take the advantage on the next two opportunities before an attack error gave the Eagles set point at 27-26. A service error from Juniata (one of 18 in the match) knotted the match at 27-all, but in the end Juniata received kills from sophomore Joe Bortak and McColgin to pick up the first set, 29-27.
After trading leads in the second set, it was the Cougars pulling away in the end. Tied at 16-all, Kean used kills from Vahalla, Farley, Mike Scheuermann and Ed Jedziniak to take a 23-18 advantage. An attack error and service sealed the set two win for Kean.
Kean led from start to finish in the third set, leading by as many as seven (21-14). The Cougars received four team blocks in the set with three kills coming from rookie Krzysztof Kucza. Juniata rallied and took the fourth set easily. Sophomore Mark Feiler tallied four kills on six swings.
In the decisive fifth set, both teams battled to eight-all. Juniata committed three straight attack errors, giving Kean an 11-8 edge. The Cougars pulled away with a solo block from Schueuermann (pictured left), a kill from Jedziniak and a solo block from Kucza (14-9). A kill from rookie Matthew Kinnebrew kept Juniata's chances alive, but a service error ended the night.
Farley finished with 13 kills (.478 attack percentage) in the final matchup while teammate Ron Dunn registered 39 assists. Libero Tom Kemmerle recorded 10 digs while Scheuermann had six blocks, eight kills and three digs.
Kean continues against ranked opponents as they face #11 New York University at home on Thursday, March 28th at 7 p.m.
