Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SPRINGFIELD, NJ – After overpowering Southern Vermont, 3-1, to open the day, Rutgers-Newark suffered more than a stunning 3-2 loss to the Sage Colleges in its final match at the Springfield Invitational.

Sophomore outside hitter Manuel Felipez, the only non-freshman on the Scarlet Raider roster, suffered a dislocated thumb in the middle of the second game of a 15-25, 25-18, 26-28, 26-24, 15-13 loss to the Gators (22-6).  The team leader tallied seven kills on just 14 swings before the injury.

IN THE FIRST MATCH, Felipez had 19 kills and an ace as the Raiders (4-16) downed Southern Vermont (8-15), 25-21, 20-25, 25-14, 25-22.

Middle hitter Cody Chidsey posted 18.0 points on 16 kills, a solo block and two assisted blocks while hitting .440 (16 kills, five errors, 25 attacks).  Outside hitter Colin Ferguson hit .448 (14-1-29) while getting in on two of the Raiders' five blocks.  Outside hitter Travis Mintzer added nine kills, an ace and two assisted blocks.

Setter Adrian Lopez had a career-high 54 assists as the Raiders hit .281 (67-26-146) for the match while adding a match-high 11 digs.  Jeremy Kelly posted 10 digs while Felipez and libero Andy Guinto registered eight digs apiece as the Rutgers-Newark defense piled up a season-high 52.

After the teams split the opening games, Chidsey hammered down five kills on just seven swings without an error and Ferguson pounded down four kills without an error on six swings as the Raiders hit a sizzling .406 (16-3-32) to take control of the match.

In the fourth frame, Mintzer, Collins and Chidsey had consecutive kills to break a 19-19 deadlock and put the Raiders ahead for keeps.  Felipez's fifth kill of the game ended the contest.  Ferguson also notched five kills in the final set.

Anthony Barahona led a balanced Mountaineer attack with 14 kills while Caleb Odom added 10 kills, a solo block and four assisted blocks.

AGAINST SAGE, Ferguson led the Raiders with 15 kills, two solo blocks and three assisted blocks, but Rutgers-Newark could not recover from the loss of Felipez against a gritty Gator team.

Freshman setter Kevin McCandless bumped up a career-high 55 assists for the Raiders as the team lost despite hitting .357 (65-19-129).

Mintzer tallied 16.5 points on 13 kills, two solo blocks and two assisted blocks while Chidsey piled up 18.5 points with a dozen kills, two aces, three solo blocks and three assisted blocks in the marathon.  Right side Christopher Kopacz contributed 10 kills, an ace, a solo blocks and two assisted blocks as Rutgers-Newark had four players with double-digit points.

Sage countered by having five players with 10 or more points led by Dylan Krowicki with 15 kills, two aces and three assisted blocks while chipping in a match-high 11 digs.  Spencer Hilland added 13points, two aces and three assisted blocks while Connor Thompson contributed a dozen kills, a solo block and a match high six assisted blocks.

Rutgers-Newark now finishes out its slate with five EIVA matches beginning with its final home match of the season against neighborhood foe NJIT on Friday at 7 p.m. in The Golden Dome Arena.