| Box Score 2

NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark rallied past Kean in the fifth set to post a heart-stopping 3-2 win in the opening round of The Golden Dome Invitational.  Defending NCAA D-III champion Springfield downed Cairn, 3-0, in the first match.

Scarlet Raider sophomore outside hitter Manuel Felipez notched three of his team-high 18 kills in the final set as Rutgers-Newark climbed out of a 2-1 hole in games and a 6-2 deficit in the fifth set to edge the Cougars (0-1) who enter the season ranked 12th in the AVCA D-III Preseason Coaches' Poll.  Game scores were 25-15, 18-25, 20-25, 25-15, 17-15.

The Cougars fought off two match points before freshman outside hitter Colin Ferguson hammered an attack into the back right corner to finish the 1-hour and 42-minute marathon.  Ferguson tallied 13 kills and eight digs while freshman outside hitter Travis Mintzer added 16 kills, a solo block and two assisted blocks.

Cougar senior outside hitter Steve Vahalla posted a match-high 20 kills while adding two aces and an assisted block while sophomore outside hitter John Cunningham notched 13 kills, an ace, a solo block and an assisted block.

Raider freshman setter Kevin McCandless and Kean sophomore setter Ron Dunn each collected 43 assists, seven digs and an ace to fuel their teams in the season opener for each squad.

Manuel, who was the starting setter as a freshman, was the only veteran on an other-wise all-rookie Raider roster as Rutgers-Newark played its first match without a scholarship athlete as the program continues its transition from NCAA D-I to D-III status.  The Raiders will compete in the EIVA this season and next before officially joining the D-III ranks.

Mintzer had five kills and Ferguson, four, in the opening game to stake Rutgers-Newark to an early lead, but the Cougars stormed back nine kills and two aces over the next two frames to take a 2-1 edge.

Felipez erupted for six kills without and error on seven swings in the fourth game as the Raiders hit a .440 (13 kills, 2 errors, 25 attacks) to level the match.

Kean reeled off four consecutive points  ignited by back-to-back kills by Vahalla to take an early 6-2 lead in the fifth set.  But the Raiders caught the visitors at 8-8 to begin a string of six ties.

IN THE OPENER, senior outside hitter Mike Pelletier hammered down 15 kills as Springfield (2-1) hit a sizzling .459 (37-9-75) to overpower Cairn (1-1).  Pelletier hit .700 with just one error on 20 swings while adding two aces, seven digs and three assisted blocks.  Game scores were 25-20, 25-18, 25-16.

Senior setter Mike Becker distributed 29 assists to fuel the balanced Pride attack.  Junior middle blocker Jimmy O'Leary got in on eight blocks as Springfield dominated play at the net.  Senior right side Alistair Matthews added seven kills and an ace while freshman outside hitter Luis Vega tallied six kills while handling 16 serves without an error.

Senior outside hitter Noah Prickett paced the Highlanders with eight kills, an ace and five digs while senior outside hitter Josh Tuttle hit .545 with seven kills and just one error on 11 attacks.

Four matches will be played on day two with Springfield facing Kean in the 1 p.m. opener.  Rutgers-Newark takes on Springfield at 2:30, Kean plays Cairn at 4 and Rutgers-Newark battles Cairn in the final match at 6.