Box Score GREENVILLE, Pa. – Rutgers University-Newark junior middle hitter
Cody Chidsey capped an outstanding performance by hammering down six kills on six swings in the fifth game of a 3-2 Continental Volleyball Conference win over Thiel College in Beeghley Gymnasium.
The Scarlet Raiders (7-5, CVC 4-0) stayed in sole possession of first place in their new league by subduing the Tomcats (6-6, CVC 1-2), 18-25, 25-16, 25-20, 20-25, 15-12. Rutgers-Newark reeled off its seventh straight win while leveling its 5-game match record for the season at 1-1.
Chidsey hit .571 for the match with a career-high 17 kills and one error on 28 attacks while getting in on one block for 17.5 points. Junior opposite
Travis Mintzer totaled a team-high 19.5 points with 14 kills, two aces, three solo blocks and a blocking assist while coming up with 11 digs.
Junior setter
Kevin McCandless piled up a season-high 53 assists, dumped in two kills, roped an ace and got in on three blocks for Rutgers-Newark in its first ever meeting with Thiel. Junior libero
Quocmy Nguyen rang up a career-high 27 digs while committing just one reception error in 26 chances.
Sophomore outside hitter
Jose Mendez notched a season-high15 kills, came up with a solo block and handled 26 serves without an error for the Raiders while sophomore outside hitter
Jack Fredricks posted eight kills and a solo block while receiving 30 serves without a mistake. Rutgers-Newark allowed just one ace. Sophomore middle hitter
Nick Kuti chipped in six kills while getting in on four blocks.
Senior outside hitter Dylan Lasher put down a match-high 18 kills, got in on three blocks and made 10 digs for the Tomcats while senior opposite John Turner amassed 16 kills, a solo block and five blocking assists to tie Lasher with 19.5 points.
Senior middle hitter Michael Whitelock posted 11 kills while getting in on six of Thiel's 12 blocks. Sophomore setter Zach Rombach piled up 49 assists, came up with 13 digs and delivered the Tomcats' only service ace while senior libero Colin Vitale recorded a team-high 19 digs.
After Thiel rolled to an opening game win behind five kills each by Turner and Lasher, the Raiders bounced to take the next two sets with Chidsey pounding down eight kills without an error on 13 attacks in the frames.
Mintzer had five kills in the fourth game for R-N, but the Tomcats got five kills from Lasher and totaled six blocks to even the match at two games apiece.
Turner had five kills and Thiel hit .400 (10-2-20) in the fifth frame, but Chidsey helped the Raiders hit a blistering .611 (12-1-18) to get the victory. After the Tomcats pulled to within a point at 12-11, Chidsey had three kills against a putaway by Turner to end the contest.
Rutgers-Newark plays in the Bard Raptor Tournament next weekend. The Raiders battle the College of Staten Island and the College of Mount St. Vincent on Friday night before finishing the event on Saturday afternoon against CCNY.
