Schedule | Roster

CVC Preseason Poll

Getting to Know; Episode 2; Senior Captain Ricky Crumlish

NEWARK, N.J. (January 17, 2018) – The Rutgers University-Newark men's volleyball team opens its 2018 season Saturday in Newark with the annual Golden Dome Invitational.
 
The Scarlet Raiders will square off against Elmira College and nationally-ranked Stevens Institute of Technology to kick-off the campaign, and they will then hit the road for a tournament at Alvernia the following weekend.
 
Rutgers-Newark will be led by a trio of talented senior captains in outside Ricky Crumlish, right side Corey Pieper and outside Justin Sandy.
 
"I can't say enough about our three captains so far," said Head Coach Pedro Trevino. "They have done everything I have asked, and I am looking forward to them taking control on the court when we need it."
 
Crumlish has steadily grown with the program and will be a key piece of the Rutgers-Newark attack this year. He played in 27 matches (86 sets) as a junior, delivering 200 kills in total (2.33 per set). Crumlish tallied career-highs in kills, kills per set, service aces (19), digs (106) and blocks (27) as a junior and appears primed to go out with his best season to date.

Click here to listen to 'Getting to Know' with Ricky Crumlish!
 
Pieper had a spectacular junior season before injury cut it short, and he ended up finishing the year ranked 17th nationally in points per set (4.19) and 20th nationally in kills per set (3.53). The Ohio native put down a grand total of 286 kills in 81 sets, adding 23 service aces, 144 digs and 48 blocks for a sterling all-around line. If he can stay healthy, Pieper has the ability to be one of the top players in the Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC) as a senior.
 
Sandy is another well-rounded veteran for Coach Trevino to lean on after playing in 29 matches as a junior. A great leader with an excellent understanding of the game, Sandy is one of the best defensive outsides in the league. He lifted 148 digs as a junior to go along with 191 kills (2.03 per set), 16 aces and 33 blocks. If Sandy continues to elevate his game, he will be in store for a big season.
 
Senior middle Jalen Sorrell is also back in the mix for the Scarlet Raiders after transferring to the Brick City as a junior. Sorrell averaged 1.53 kills per set as a junior, and he led the team with a .289 hitting percentage. His 213 points were good for fourth on the Raiders, but he paced the team in blocks (82) and blocks per set (.81). A steadying force in the middle, Sorrell will make the Scarlet Raiders tough to defend while at the same time anchoring the front-line of defense.
 
Middle Dom Gutowski rounds out a deep senior class and has demonstrated his blocking prowess throughout the preseason. Gutowski will look to make his impact felt consistently in 2018 after a solid junior season that saw him end the year second on the Raiders in blocks (75) and blocks per set (.77). The Old Bridge native also accumulated 1.48 points per set, putting down 88 kills and 11 service aces.
 
A trio of juniors are back in outside Brendon Frank, setter Arnan Romua and libero/defensive specialist Aeshang Shah.
 
Frank has the potential to be one of the biggest hitters in the offense after splitting his time as a setter and hitter as a sophomore. Frank tallied 85 kills and dished out 529 assists (5.63 per set), leading the team in assists and service aces (26). Coach Trevino is hoping the move to outside will unleash the best Frank Scarlet Raider fans have seen, and he has looked the part as the preseason has progressed.
 
Romua played a great deal of setter last year for the Scarlet Raiders, appearing in 24 matches and 60 sets. He dished out 374 assists in total (6.23 per set; team-high), adding 11 aces and 70 digs to his line. Romua has looked solid during camp, and as his reps increase the Scarlet Raider offense should start to click.
 
Shah took the court four times as a sophomore and will add depth to the Scarlet Raider defense. A valuable piece, Shah is pushing for time and has given the Rutgers-Newark attack a great defensive look in practices.
 
Sophomore libero Jake Connors is coming off an excellent rookie season in which he averaged 2.67 digs per set - second in the CVC. His 265 total digs checked in fourth as Connors led Rutgers-Newark in both total sets and matches played. With his first year of experience under his belt and a strong offseason, Connors is looking to take his game to the next level in his second year in the Brick City.
 
Sophomores Warren Hilliard and Miguel O'Conner will both be eyeing larger roles as the season progresses. Hilliard did a nice job serving for Rutgers-Newark as a freshman, taking the court in 73 sets and delivering nine service aces. O'Conner played in 12 sets and nine matches for the Raiders, lifting a trio of digs.
 
"I am looking for all of our returners – sophomores, juniors and seniors – to take the next step this year," said Trevino. "I've been pleased with the work I have seen so far, but we have a long way to go."
 
Trevino and the Rutgers-Newark staff has brought in a wealth of talent in a nine-person freshman class. Leading that group will be setter Travis Emenaker, middle Nicholas Arce-Cox and right side Kyle Loesner. Emenaker is tall and athletic with a chance to be a special player for the Scarlet Raiders, while Arce-Cox is a good all-around presence in the middle. Loesner has demonstrated the intangibles needed to be an excellent collegiate athlete, and outside Rob Long has superb ball control and a tough serve. Rookie libero Grant Totten commands the court and is a competitor, and middle David Mrowko is strong on offense and getting better on the blocking side of things. Libero/defensive specialist Joseph Breuer will compete for time, and middle/right side Rahmir Gordon-Jones is a versatile player that is getting better each day.
 
"These young guys are going to push for time, and I think that's what you want in a program," said Trevino. "Our practices have been competitive, and guys are hungry for a chance."
 
Rutgers-Newark will be looking to get back to the postseason after missing out on the conference tournament in 2017. The conference has become tougher this year, but the coaching staff is confident.
 
"The CVC was tough as it was, but with the addition of Kean, Ramapo and Southern Virginia every match is extremely important," said the head coach. "The talent from top-to-bottom in the league is better, so we need to be ready to go."
 
As for what Trevino sees in his team this year…
 
"We are more balanced on both sides of the net. We have more options on offense, and our defense is better as well. We still have a lot of room to improve, but if we put things together, I know we can get back to the postseason."
 
Fans unable to make it to The Golden Dome Saturday can watch the Scarlet Raiders live at www.rutgersnewarkathletics.com. Fans will also be able to follow via live stats at www.sidearmstats.com/rutgers/mvball all season long.