Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

NEWARK, N.J. - Junior setter Kevin McCandless distributed 52 assists and got in on five of Rutgers University-Newark's 10 blocks in a 3-1 win over No. 10 Baruch to end a tri-match in The Golden Dome Arena. In the opening match, Rutgers-Newark was edged by No. 2 Stevens, 3-1. Stevens then swept the Bearcats (10-5) before the Scarlet Raiders (11-7) bounced back for a 25-22, 23-25, 25-13, 25-21 victory over Baruch.

The victory over Baruch (10-5) snapped an 0-4 record against AVCA D-III Top 15 teams this season by Rutgers-Newark. The Raiders had fallen to No. 9 NYU, No. 4, New Paltz, No. 5 Juniata and No. 2 Stevens this season. Rutgers-Newark fell in five games to NYU and Juniata while taking one set against New Paltz and Stevens.

Junior opposite Travis Mintzer posted match highs of 16 kills and a dozen digs while adding two service aces and a blocking assist for 18.5 points. Sophomore outside hitter Jose Mendez posted 15 kills while sophomore middle hitter Nick Kuti contributed eight kills and an ace while getting in on eight blocks. Junior middle hitter Cody Chidsey added 11 kills and a pair of service aces.

Bearcat middle blocker Yanni Malo totaled a team-high 15.5 points with 10 kills, a pair of solo blocks and seven blocking assists while senior outside hitter Nick Smith tallied a team-high 13 kills. Junior outside hitter Brady Ambro finished with a dozen kills and three blocking assists while junior setter Brian Coniglio posted 30 assists in three games.

After Mendez hammered down five kills to help the Raiders cruise to an opening-game win, Smith ignited the Bearcats with six kills on 10 swings in the second frame as Baruch hit .324 (17-5-37) to level the match.

The Raiders countered by hitting .400 (12-4-20) with a pair of aces by Mintzer to take control of the match in game three.

Mintzer had five kills and Mendez, four, in the final set as Rutgers-Newark pulled away from an early 3-3 tie to lead the rest of the way.

IN THE OPENER AGAINST STEVENS, game scores were 17-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-13, as the Ducks got points at critical times at the end of games two and three to post the victory.

Chidsey hit a solid .417 with a team-high 13 kills and three errors on 24 swings and added a solo block, but the Ducks (14-4) escaped a 23-21 deficit in game two to run their winning streak to four matches.

Already up a game, the Raiders got a kill from Mendez to take a 23-21 lead in the second frame. But a Rutgers-Newark attack error was followed by back-to-back kills by sophomore hitter Jordan Stuart to put the visitors at game point. Stuart and junior setter John Eddins then blocked a Mendez attack to level the match. The Raiders dropped the set despite hitting .500 (16 kills, two errors, 28 attacks) with Chidsey putting down seven kills on eight swings in the frame.

There were eight ties and two lead changes in the third game with a kill by Mintzer tying the score at 22-22. Stevens senior outside hitter David Evans, who notched eight kills in the game, followed a Rutgers-Newark service error with back-to-back kills to give the Ducks control of the match. Mintzer hammered down seven kills for the Raiders in the set with Chidsey putting down four of his five attacks.

Stevens pulled away from an early 2-2 tie in the fourth game behind six kills on eight swings by Evans.

Rutgers-Newark hit .548 (19-2-31) in the first game as sophomore outside hitter Jack Fredricks posted five kills on seven attacks without an error.

Mintzer finished with 11 kills and two blocking assists for a dozen points for Rutgers-Newark (10-7) while McCandless rang up 48 assists while dumping in four kills and making a solo block. The Raiders hit a solid .344 (58-16-122) behind his passes.

Fredricks and Mendez posted 10 kills apiece for Rutgers-Newark while junior libero Quocmy Nguyen came up with a team-high eight digs.

Evans posted 24 points with a match-high 23 kills on .556 hitting (23-3-36) and a service ace while junior outside hitter Chris Vaughan tallied 13 kills while getting in on three blocks for the Ducks. Vaughan also had a match-high 10 digs. Senior outside hitter Ryan Seifert chipped in 11 kills and two aces. The setter tandem of senior Kevin Aeckerle and Eddins combined for 48 assists to help Stevens hit .383 (58-14-115).