NEWARK, NJ | After dominating in the first set, it took until extra points in set five for Rutgers-Newark (20-8) to put away Marymount (10-14) by a final set score of 3-2.
The Scarlet Raiders were taking no prisoners in set one.
Derek Au started with the service after the senior day ceremony, and he led his team to a 4-0 start. After his ace on point four, the Saints were forced to take their first timeout. They did win their first point after the break, but they were stuck behind their opponent.
Rutgers-Newark was rolling.
Massimo Roco found the floor to set the score at 11-4, and the lead just kept growing.
Aleks Kolodziej got behind the line and smacked THREE straight aces to make it 22-12. Marymount called another timeout, but they couldn't stop the hosts from taking the first set in commanding fashion. Roco got the final kill to end it at 25-14.
The visitors straightened things out in the second set. The beginning was back and forth, with the two teams drawing level at every number from one to nine. Then, Marymount won three consecutive points, leading to a Scarlet Raider timeout.
After play resumed, the Saints established a four point gap that hosts worked hard to close. They brought it down to two at 18-16, but Luke Pogue smacked it down from close range to keep the Scarlet Raiders at bay.
Vincent Lopez connected sweetly on a kill, and Rutgers-Newark continued to rally.
Marymount took a timeout with a 22-20 lead. The teams exchanged points afterward, and then the home team took a timeout of their own. There was one more timeout to be had, but in the end the Saints squeaked it out by a score of 25-23.
In the early stages of set three, the visitors were in control. They went up 3-0, and maintained that advantage all the way to 9-6. At that point, the Scarlet Raiders began picking up steam.
Alex Solodky collected three kills in four for the hosts to tie the game at 11.
Marymount took a timeout, but Rutgers-Newark kept on rolling. They continued their hot streak to take a strong 17-13 lead. But the Saints are no pushovers, and they brought it close again. Despite the close competition, the Scarlet Raiders pulled out a 25-21 victory to regain their set lead. 2-1.
The hosts kept their momentum going into set number four. They jumped ahead 7-4, and the energy was strong in the Golden Dome. However, the Saints bounced back and tied things at seven. After a timeout, Marymount pulled ahead by a score 12-9. Rutgers-Newark fought to get back on level terms, but it wasn't easy. At 18-14, a service error gave them an opportunity to go on a run. They grabbed three straight to get within a point, forcing a timeout from their opponent.
Despite the strong effort, it wasn't meant to be for Rutgers-Newark in set four. The Saints finished strongly, winning six of the final seven points to take the set and send this match all the way to five.
There was no breathing room to be had in the final set. Neither team had a lead of larger than one until a double touch put Rutgers-Newark ahead 6-4. They pushed the lead to three when the sides switched, 8-5. As was the case all game, Marymount made things difficult. They got within a point, but a
Derek Au ace eased the tension to make it 12-9.
The Saints called a timeout to break the momentum, and it didn't quite work until the last opportunity when they tied the score at 13.
Aleks Kolodziej secured a kill to give the home team a set point, but the visitors answered. And with that, the two teams entered extra points. Rutgers-Newark kept edging ahead, but they just couldn't get the two in a row that they needed. That was until
Aleks Kolodziej slammed one down to finish the set at 19-17 and give the Scarlet Raiders a dramatic win!
In a thrilling match that went longer than any other so far this year, Rutgers-Newark took the W with an electric crowd to support them.
Men's volleyball will have their final regular season competition on Saturday, April 5th. They will head on the road to Cambridge, MA for a pair of matchups against MIT and Curry at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM, respectively.
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