Newark, N.J. - Playing their second match in as many days, the St. Thomas Aquinas Men's Volleyball team made their way to the "Brick City" Newark, New Jersey for a Sunday afternoon clash with non-conference opponents and No. 20 AVCA nationally ranked New Jersey Institute of Technology at the Joel and Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center.
The host Highlanders took the opening set, before the Spartans evened things with a victory in set two. A back and forth third set saw both sides gain and lose advantages throughout, with NJIT winning late and then taking the final stanza to clinch the match 3-1.
STAC slips to 6-11 on the season, while NJIT improves to 11-6.
Set Results
Set 1: NJIT 25/STAC 16
Set 2: STAC 25/NJIT 21
Set 3: NJIT 27/STAC 25
Set 4: NJIT 25/STAC 18
How it Happened
- As a team, St. Thomas Aquinas recorded 36 kills compared to New Jersey Institute of Technology's 49. The Spartans also had 15.5 blocks and 35 assists, while the Highlanders tallied 10.5 blocks and 47 assists.
- NJIT outhit STAC by a .257 to .135 margin for the match.
- Kyran Versteegen paced the Spartans offense with a team-high 12 kills. He also registered a serve assist, a service ace, four digs and three block assists.
- Marcus Franck tallied a team-high 25 serve assists (6.25 assists/set). Franck also accumulated three kills, two service aces, two digs and two block assists for the maroon and gold.
- Luis Grath picked up five kills, a service ace, two digs and seven block assists on Sunday afternoon.
- Alan Santiago racked up four kills, a solo block and three block assists against the Highlanders.
- David Weiss contributed four kills, two digs and six block assists to the match.
- Jakob Schwarz accumulated three kills, two serve assists, two digs and two block assists.
- Ylan Tapper put together a three kill, one service ace, four dig and two block assist effort for the Spartans.
- Santiago Valenca recorded two kills, three digs and four block assists over four sets.
- St. Thomas Aquinas has now faced off with the No. 5 (USC), No. 7 (Pepperdine), No. 14 (Lewis), No. 16 (Penn State) and No. 20 (NJIT) AVCA nationally ranked teams.
Up Next
STAC opens ECC play on Thursday, March 12, taking on Roberts Wesleyan University at the Spartan Athletic Complex. First serve between the Spartans and Redhawks is set for 5:00 p.m.