NEWARK, N.J. – The Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders earned their biggest win of the season Tuesday night, defeating No. 2 ranked Stevens Ducks in a thrilling five-set battle, 3-2 (28-26, 21-25, 20-25, 25-20, 15-10).

Rutgers-Newark set the tone early, grinding out a tightly contested opening frame, 28-26. Michael Suarez came out swinging in the first set with seven kills to push the Scarlet Raiders over the top. After Stevens responded by taking the second and third sets to seize control of the match, the Scarlet Raiders regrouped in the fourth. Set four was tied at 10 before Rutgers-Newark took control. Behind a balanced offensive attack and key defensive stops late, Newark forced a decisive fifth set with a 25-20 victory.

In the tiebreaker, the Scarlet Raiders delivered their strongest stretch of volleyball. The Scarlet Raiders jumped out to a quick 8-3 lead with all the momentum before the teams switched sides. The Ducks looked to fight back, but the Scarlet Raider offense was too strong once again, led by Suarez and the home side closed out the upset with a 15-10 win to seal the statement victory.

Suarez led the way with 19 kills and seven digs. Aleks Kolodziej, fresh off earning NJAC Player of the Week honors, added 13 kills and 13 digs, while Massimo Roco finished with 12 kills and hit an impressive .733 on the night. Duncan Sturt tied his career high with 54 assists, directing the offense in the signature win.

Rutgers-Newark entered the week sitting just outside the top 20 in the AVCA national poll, and this victory over the No. 2 ranked team should provide a significant boost as the Scarlet Raiders look to break into the top 20 in the coming rankings.

For the latest news, updates, and information on Rutgers-Newark sports, visit rutgersnewarkathletics.com. Fans can also stay up-to-date on the latest Scarlet Raiders news by following Rutgers-Newark Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.