Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Rutgers University-Newark was greeted to the NCAA D-III ranks with a pair of losses to nationally-ranked opponents in the Owings Mills Gym on the campus of Stevenson University.

The Scarlet Raiders (0-5) were edged by No. 11 New York University, 3-2, and fell to No. 4 New Paltz, 3-1, in their first D-III competitions after opening the season in Puerto Rico against a trio of D-II programs. New Paltz and NYU were each ranked highly in the AVCA Preseason Poll while Rutgers-Newark drew six votes in the initial balloting.

IN THE OPENING MATCH, junior middle hitter Cody Chidsey posted a team-high 18 points, but NYU rallied from deficits twice to edge the Scarlet Raiders, 15-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-20, 16-14.

Chidsey piled up 15 kills, two solo blocks and two blocking assists but the Violets (2-0) fought back on the strength of 22 kills, three aces, and four blocking assists by sophomore outside hitter Chase Klein.

Junior opposite Travis Mintzer and sophomore outside hitter Jose Mendez each tallied 10.5 points for the Raiders while junior setter Kevin McCandless distributed 38 assists. Mintzer totaled eight kills while getting in on three blocks. Mendez roped two of the Raiders' three aces and joined sophomore middle hitter Nick Kuti with seven kills in the balanced Rutgers-Newark attack.

Sophomore Jack Fredricks handled 34 serves without an error for the Raiders while Quocmy Nguyen had just one miscue in 21 chances. Senior Alex Barnhard came up with a match-high 16 digs.

In the fifth game, the Raiders climbed out of a 14-10 hole on a kill by Chidsey followed by three consecutive attack errors by Klein to level the match. But sophomore middle hitter Sean Leahy posted a kill for NYU before Klein delivered an ace on match point.

AGAINST NEW PALTZ, Chidsey and Mendez led the Raiders with nine kills apiece, but the Hawks bounced back from a loss in game one for a 20-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-20 win.

Kuti got in on five blocks while adding three kills and an ace but the Raiders managed just 34 kills behind 18 assists from McCandless and eight from freshman Corey Pieper. Fredricks notched a team-high 10 digs while committing just one error on 39 service receptions. He also got in on five blocks and put down five kills for 8.5 points.

New Paltz hit a crisp .323 (66 kills, 24 errors, 130 attacks) behind the setting of junior Christian Smith and senior John Lutjen who combined for 60 assists. Freshman outside hitter Anthony Bonilla hit .458 with a match-high 16 kills and five errors on 24 swings. Sophomore middle blocker Steven Woessner posted a match-high 17 points on 13 kills, an ace, two solo blocks and a pair of blocking assists.

Rutgers-Newark kicks off its home slate on Tuesday night in The Golden Dome Arena against neighborhood rival NJIT. First serve is set for 7.