Union, N.J.- The Hunter College men's volleyball team traveled to New Jersey to compete at the Kean University Winter Classic for a double-header. The Hawks fell in both matches against Randolph-Macon College and New Paltz, as they dropped to 1-3 overall to start off the season.
Match 1
Hunter faced off against Randolph-Macon (4-4) to start the day as they fell 3-2 (24-16, 15-25, 28-30, 25-18, 11-15). The Hawks jumped out to an early lead in the first set with a 12-3 edge. The Yellow Jackets responded with a run of their own, coming within four but could not overcome the Purple and Gold as the Hawks' won seven of the last nine points in the set for a 25-16 victory to put Hunter up 1-0. Set no. 2 started off even, with the teams going back and forth until they were tied a 8-8, but Randolph-Macon put together a 9-1 run as Hunter trailed 16-9. The Hawks were unable to overcome the deficit as Randolph-Macon held at least a six point advantage for the remainder of the set eventually winning 25-15 as the two teams were tied heading into the third.
The third set was a thriller, going five points past the usual. The two teams went point for point until Randolph-Macon managed at 10-8 lead. Hunter responded with a huge 9-1 run, quickly overcoming its opponent to take a 17-11 lead, carrying it until a 23-17 score. Randolph-Macon managed a late run to tied up the set at 24. The teams continued the point exchange as the Hawks had a 28-27 lead until a pair of Yellow Jacket kills lifted Randolph-Macon to a 30-28 set three win and a 2-1 edge.
The Hawks took the lead early in the fourth frame, holding a four-point advantage at 9-5. Hunter continued to hold off the Yellow Jackets with a 18-12 lead before a 3-0 run by its opponent cut it to three. The Hawks immediately responded with a 3-0 run of their own as they held the lead for the reminder of the set producing a 25-18 victory to force a fifth set. Randolph-Macon controlled the final set, starting off early with a 5-2 lead. Hunter didn't go quietly, managing to cut the lead to two at 10-8 but were overwhelmed by Randolph-Macon as the fell 15-11 in the final set to take the match 3-2.
Muhammad Al-Amine Mbaye led the Hawks with 18 kills, followed by
Annes Deljanin with 13 and
Jimmy Chang with 11. Deljanin had a well rounded performance adding 11 digs and was the team's top server, with four aces as well.
Sergio Aguado led in digs with 14, followed by
Nick Yao with 13, while
Cooper Moran paced the Hawks with 48 assists.
Match 2
The Hawks dropped the second match of the day 3-1 to New Paltz (5-4) at 18-25, 17-25, 25-22, 16-25. New Paltz started the match off grabbing the first three points, a lead they would hold for the set's entirety. The Hawks came within one at 11-10 with a kill from
Matisse Lee-Maarek but New Patlz responded with a 4-1 lead as Hunter would be unable to get closer than three for the rest of the set as New Paltz ultimately took the first set with a 25-18 victory.
Despite another early lead by New Paltz, the Purple and Gold managed to stay within three until a 5-2 run by New Patlz left the Hawks in a 17-11 deficit. Hunter was unable to bounce back as New Paltz took a 2-0 lead with a 25-17 win in set no. 2.
Hunter got out to a 5-3 lead in the fourth set while New Paltz responded with four straight points of their own to take a 7-6 lead. An 8-2 run by Hunter, put the squad up 17-14. New Paltz struggled to recover as Hunter held its lead to force a fourth set with a 25-22 win.
A 5-1 opening lead by New Patlz set the tone for the fourth set. Hunter continued to trail but managed to get within one at 10-9 until New Paltz responded with a seven unanswered points. The two teams exchanged points for the remainder of play as Hunter was unable to string together a run to ultimately drop the set 16-25 and fall 3-1 in their second match of the day.
Al-Amine Mbaye led the team again with eight kills, while sophomore, Lee-Maarek, added seven followed by
Kyle Foley's six. Deljanin recorded the only aces of the match for Hunter with two while Aguado again led with seven kills.
The Hawks look to bounce back on Feb. 8 as the team travels the Steven's for a 7:00 p.m. start.
