GREENEVILLE, Pa. (April 8, 2017) – Thiel College topped Rutgers University-Newark in the 2017 season finale for both schools. The Tomcats edged the Scarlet Raiders by a 3-2 final, taking the fifth set, 15-10.
 
Rutgers-Newark ends its season 6-8 in the Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC) and 12-17 overall. Thiel improves to 11-15 overall and 5-9 in the league.
 
Saturday's set scores were 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 21-25 and 15-10.
 
After forcing a fifth set, Rutgers-Newark was unable to prevail late, falling 15-10 in the fifth. The two teams traded early tallies, and an ace from junior Ricky Crumlish put the Raiders on top 5-4. From that point, the Tomcats scored six-straight points to open a 10-5 lead. Three-straight Thiel errors allowed Rutgers to get within two, but a late 3-0 surge from the hosts sealed the win.
 
A 7-1 run early in the first set helped Thiel to a 10-5 lead, but six-straight points late in the set on the serve of junior Corey Pieper allowed Rutgers-Newark to open a 21-20 edge. However, 5-of-7 for Thiel down the stretch helped them take a 1-0 margin.
 
Thiel took a 10-6 lead in the second, but a 7-1 rally for the Scarlet Raiders allowed the guests to a 13-11 edge. The lead swelled to eight (21-13) later on the serve of junior Justin Sandy, and Thiel could get no closer than three down the stretch.
 
Rutgers raced out to a 7-2 lead early in the third, and it maintained a solid working margin for much of the set. Unfortunately, Thiel found its footing, turning a 17-14 deficit into a 23-20 advantage by scoring 9-of-12, and the Scarlet Raiders could not recover in falling behind 2-1.
 
Thiel held an 11-9 lead after 20 points, but the Scarlet Raiders flipped the set with 7-of-9 to go on top 18-16 later in the action. A winner from junior Jalen Sorrell made it a 20-17 set, and Crumlish put down a winner to force a winner-take-all fifth set.
 
Rutgers-Newark had 64 points in the match on 46 kills, eight aces and 10 blocks. The Raiders added 45 assists and 55 digs, hitting .180 in the match. Thiel hit .200, pocketing 82 points on 66 kills and 12 aces.
 
Junior Dom Gutowski (13), Crumlish (11) and Pieper (seven) led the Raiders in kills, while Gutowski, Crumlish and Pieper all had two aces. Gutowski tallied an excellent six blocks, and both Sorrell (four) and Sandy (two) picked up multiple rejections, while Romua handed out 42 assists. Freshman Jake Connors lifted a match-high 18 digs in the five-setter, while Crumlish had 12 for a double-double and Romua had nine.
 
Fans should continue to check www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com for postseason honors and awards, and fans are always encouraged to follow @ScarletRaiders on twitter for the latest.