UNION, N.J. (2/16/19)- Four Cougars posted double-digit kills over two matches as the #7 Kean University men's volleyball team defeated #8 SUNY New Paltz and New Jersey City University in a tri-match on Saturday afternoon.
Kean 3, SUNY New Paltz 2 (25-20, 23-25, 25-23, 16-25, 15-12)
Ian Capp posted a double-double with 10 kills and 22 assists as the Cougars (11-3) got back to their winning ways with a five set thriller over the Hawks (8-3). Capp added five aces and two solo blocks, while hitting .412 in the match. Kamil Garbowski led the Cougars with 12 kills and a .500 hitting percentage, while Steven Zarzycki totaled nine kills and five digs.
Kean combined for nine total blocks, including 10 block assists as the Cougars posted a .219 hitting percentage for the match. New Paltz hit .307 for the match and traded sets with Kean which forced the deciding set.
In the fifth set, Kean took an early 3-0 advantage before the Hawks scored four straight points to even everything at 4-4. After trading points, the Cougars closed the match on a 5-2 run that included back-to- back assisted blocks and back-to-back kills.
Jake Milnazik totaled seven kills, while Dylan Flor added five. Zach Gerken handed out 18 assists, while Jonathan Meyer collected nine digs.
Nick Smith finished with 13 kills and eight digs for the Hawks.
Kean 3, New Jersey City 1 (25-19, 25-18, 19-25, 25-22)
Flor tallied 11 kills and a .409 hitting percentage as the Cougars (12-3, 1-0 NJAC) won the first ever New Jersey Athletic Conference men's volleyball match with a victory over the Gothic Knights (3-5, 0-1 NJAC). Kean posted a .272 hitting percentage as NJCU was able to steal a set from the Cougars in a hard fought match on both sides.
Flor posted six of his 11 kills in the final set victory, while Garbowski added three to help the Cougars keep the scrappy Gothic Knights at bay.
Seth Russell totaled nine kills and eight digs, while Jay Bynum, Garbowski, Adam Casper and Nick Buseski all tallied four kills apiece. Gerken handed out 36 assists in the victory.
Julian Moreira totaled 13 kills, while Jimmy Vega and Aaron Mantilla posted 17 assists each.
Head Coach Charlie Ginex and the Cougars will return to action on Wednesday, Feb. 20th, hosting the Brewers of Vassar College at 6:00 p.m. and the Bloodhounds of John Jay College at 8:00 p.m.
