HOBOKEN, NJ – Rutgers-Newark turned back an upset bid by Stevens, but it took five games in Canavan Gym. Game scores were 25-16, 25-15, 23-25, 23-25, 15-12.

BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Juniors Austin Pappas, Kenneth de Groh and Marcin Midura combined for 44 kills while senior setter Jeff Zornig posted 41 assists to key the Scarlet Raiders' crisp .336 (60-24-107) hitting for the match, but the Ducks (14-9) bounced back from losses in games one and two to level the contest with back-to-back 25-23 decisions.

Pappas added two aces and four assisted blocks while de Groh roped a match-high four aces while getting in on three blocks. Midura had an ace and two assisted blocks.

Junior middle hitter Grant Metheny added eight kills and three aces while getting in on eight blocks while sophomore middle hitter Brett Pickens notched four kills, an ace, a solo block and three assisted blocks. Junior libero Zack Chambers came up with a match-high seven digs.

Jonathan Landis paced Stevens with 11 kills and just one error on 19 attacks (.526) while SteFan PremDas added 10 kills and an ace. Timothy Karl had nine kills without an error on 13 swings (.692) to help the Ducks hit .235.

Rutgers-Newark travels to California for three matches during the spring break.  Tuesday the Raiders take on Cardinal Stritch University (MO) at 10 a.m. (PDT) before facing host Cal Baptist at 7 p.m.  Rutgers-Newark plays at Pepperdine on Saturday to wrap up the trip.