New York, NY - Hunter College men's volleyball upset the #8 ranked team in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 15 poll as NYU went down in an exciting five-set match (25-21, 22-25, 26-24, 21-25, 15-13). 

Ben Crusinberry led the team with 14 kills in the match, while adding 13 digs. Freshman Blake Hogan followed, recording 12 kills and Benjamin Cassidy led the Hawks with 24 assists. Joseph Muir carried the Hawks defensively with 15 digs in the victory. 

Hunter recorded a .212 hitting percentage in the match, holding the Violets to just a .168 attack percentage. 

The Hawks took an early lead in the first set following several NYU errors that allowed them to get the 9-4 edge. The Violets would tie the score at 11, but Hunter scored three-straight points to regain momentum and lead for the rest of the set, taking the first, 25-21. 

Hunter began the second set by jumping out to a 3-0 lead and would maintain the lead until half-way through the set as NYU went on a run to force the Hawks to trail by three points. The Hawks would go on a 4-1 run to catch back up and trail by just one point, but the Violets finished out the second with three kills to take the set, 25-22 and tie the match, 1-1.

The third set was as close as possible as it featured 14 tied scores and nine lead changes througout the set. Neither team could maintain a lead until Hunter would go on a 4-1 run to lead 23-22. NYU tied up the set again with a kill, but the Hawks were able to close the set with a 3-1 run following a kill from Hogan to seal the win, 26-24.

The Violets got the advantage in the fourth, earning a comfortable lead and never falling behind to take the set, 25-21 and tying the match 2-2. 

NYU struck first in the fifth set, but Hunter capitalized on NYU errors to take a 3-2 lead. The rest of the set would be a battle with nine ties, but with the score tied at 13 Hunter's Hogan would record back-to-back kills to give the Hawks the 15-13 victory and win the match, 3-2.

The Hawks will return to action on Feb. 6 for a CUNYAC multi-match against Medgar Evers and John Jay.