Highlights

NEWARK, N.J. (February 28, 2018) – The sixth-ranked Kean University men's volleyball team defeated Rutgers University-Newark, 3-0, Wednesday night in The Golden Dome, ending the Scarlet Raider win streak at 12.
 
Rutgers-Newark had several chances to take the first and third sets, but Kean prevailed in bonus volleyball on both occasions. The set scores were 26-24, 25-13 and 29-27.
 
The Scarlet Raiders drop to 13-2 overall and 5-1 in the Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC), while Kean improves to 15-2 overall and 4-1 in league play.
 
Coming into action Wednesday, the two teams had a combined record of 27-3 and had won an incredible 20-straight matches with the loss for the Scarlet Raiders being their first since January 20.
 
Kean 26, Rutgers-Newark 24
Each side went on mini-runs in the early going, with a Scarlet Raider service error giving Kean a 13-10 lead after 23 points.
 
Back-to-back kills for seniors Corey Pieper and Jalen Sorrell pulled the Scarlet Raiders within one (14-13), but Kean responded with a 4-0 run to open an 18-13 lead. Newark answered, running off four-straight tallies to get within one (18-17), and monster kill from Pieper tied the set at 18-all.
 
A Crumlish kill gave Rutgers a 21-20 lead, and a Crumlish solo block gave the Scarlet Raiders set point at 24-22. Unfortunately, Kean was able to score the final four points in the set, taking a 1-0 lead by a 26-24 final.
 
Kean 25, Rutgers-Newark 13
The two teams split the first 10 points in the second frame, with a 5-0 spurt for Kean giving the guests a 13-8 lead.
 
Rutgers-Newark was able to get within four on several occasions, but another 5-0 run for the guests turned a four-point margin (16-12) to nine, and the Cougars eventually took the set, 25-13.
 
Kean 29, Rutgers-Newark 27
Just like the second set, the two teams split the first 10 points of the third with a kill from senior Justin Sandy and a Cougar error giving Rutgers-Newark a 7-5 lead.
 
Kean came back to take the lead, and a Pieper-Dom Gutowski block tied the score at 11. The two squads traded tallies and were tied at 15 after 30 before Sorrell and freshman Travis Emenaker combined on a block to put R-N back on top (17-16).
 
Back-to-back Pieper kills helped Rutgers to a 21-18 lead, but 4-of-5 for Kean allowed the guests to tie the score at 22. Crumlish delivered a winner to push the score to 24-23, setting up a chance at set point, but Kean was able to prevail, edging the Raiders 29-27 to secure the sweep.
 
Rutgers-Newark hit .119 in the match, totaling 37 points on 30 kills, six blocks and one ace. Kean hit .333 with 55 points via 48 kills, four blocks and three aces. The Raiders notched 29 digs and 29 assists, hitting a match-high .233 in the opening frame.
 
Pieper had a team-leading 12 kills and three digs, while Sandy put down eight spikes and had five digs. Crumlish had five kills and a pair of digs, while sophomore libero Jake Connors had eight digs and four assists. Emenaker tallied 11 assists and junior Arnan Romua pocketed 14 helpers to lead the passing unit, with Pieper, Sorrell and Gutowski all pocketing multiple blocks.
 
Rutgers-Newark will look to get back into the win column Saturday with a key CVC showdown against defending league champ Juniata College. Opening serve is set for 2 p.m. from The Golden Dome.