Box Score

NEWARK, N.J. – Rutgers University-Newark ran its string of straight-set wins to six with a 3-0 sweep of Cairn University in a Continental Volleyball Conference match in The Golden Dome Arena.  Game scores were 25-15, 25-15, 25-12.
 
Junior setter Kevin McCandless notched 34 assists to fuel a Scarlet Raider attack which hit a torrid .550 (40 kills, seven errors, 60 attacks) to post a season's best attack percentage for the third consecutive match as Rutgers-Newark (6-5, CVC 3-0) maintained sole possession of first place in the CVC.  McCandless, who added two kills and two of the Raiders' four service aces, registered an incredible .694 assist percentage (34 assists, 49 sets).
 
Sophomore middle hitter Nick Kuti totaled match highs of 10 kills and 12.5 points while getting in three blocks to be the only player on either team in double-digit points.  He hammered down 10 kills with just one error on a dozen swings to hit .750.
 
Junior middle hitter Cody Chidsey and sophomore outside hitter Jose Mendez tallied 8.5 points apiece.  Chidsey hit .500 with seven kills and one error on 12 attacks while getting in on two blocks.  Mendez posted six kills, an ace, a solo block and two blocking assists.
 
Junior opposite Travis Mintzer had four kills, a solo block and three blocking assists in the first two games before watching the third frame.  Sophomore outside hitter Jack Fredricks hit .714 with five kills and no errors in just seven attacks.
 
Freshman opposite Corey Pieper helped the Raiders hit .609 in the final game by pounding down four kills in as many attempts while adding an ace and a blocking assist.
 
The Highlanders (7-6, CVC 0-2) got a team-high six kills from freshman outside hitter Andy Willets while senior outside hitter David Dager tallied 6.5 points on five kills, an ace and a blocking assist.
 
After hitting .333 (9-4-15) in the first game, the Raiders committed just one attack error in the second frame to hit .636 (15-1-22).  Rutgers-Newark made just two errors in the final set to hit .609 (16-2-23).
 
The Raiders have now hit .490 (121-25-196) in the first three matches of their membership in the CVC.  The team hit .448 (39-9-67) in a sweep of Marymount on Friday and .478 (42-9-69) in a straight set win over Eastern Mennonite on Saturday.
 
Since a 0-5 start to the season, Rutgers-Newark has hit .438 (229-55-397) during its 6-0 home run in The Golden Dome Arena.
 
The Raiders will now go on the road for five straight matches over the next two weeks starting with a CVC battle at Thiel on Saturday at 3 p.m.