UNION, N.J. (1/14/16) – The No. 11 Kean University men's volleyball team swept aside Johnson & Wales University on the first day of the season-opening Kean Winter Classic on Thursday. It was the first action of the year for both squads.

Kean won the first set comfortably after scoring five of the first six points on the year. Bill Fischer had seven kills in the first set to pace the Cougars, and the Kean defense held J&W to a .000 hitting percentage with six kills and six errors.

The Cougars started out the second set just as hot, taking seven of the first eight points. Kean won the second going away 25-16 and held the Wildcats to a .033 hitting percentage over the first two sets.

The third was more competitive, with Johnson & Wales within two points late in the match. But with the Wildcats within striking distance, a service error ended the set 25-22 and Kean had the season-opening sweep. The Cougars racked up 4.5 team blocks in the final set alone and had 7.5 total on the night. The team also had its best sideout set of the day in the third at 78 percent.

Jacob Kauffman led Kean with 13 kills overall and Fischer was right behind him with 12.

Steve Schrank (pictured left) had a nice night as the Kean setter, dishing out 28 assists in the three sets. He added a pair of kills and five digs. Cougar libero Nick Breslin led the team with nine digs. Fisher finished with seven and Kauffman had six. Tommy Rosario led the team with four blocks; two solos and two assists.

Ryan Kennedy led the Wildcats with 11 kills on the night.

The Cougars will return to wrap up the season-opening Kean Winter Classic tomorrow with matches against D'Youville College at noon and No. 14 Stevenson University at 4 p.m.