New York, N.Y.- In a thrilling rematch of last year's championship ARC Arena, the no. 2 Hunter College men's volleyball team fought valiantly in the CUNYAC championship game against their rivals, Baruch College. The Hawks ultimately fell short in a hard-fought battle, with top-seeded Baruch taking the titled in four sets (25-27, 24-26, 28-26, 18-25).
The game began with intense back-and-forth action, setting the tone for the entire match. The first set saw both teams trading blows, with Hunter displaying resilience and determination. Led by standout performances from
Kyle Foley,
Matisse Lee-Maarek, and Muhammad Al-Amine Mbaye, the Hawks secured the opening set with a score of 25-27.
However, Baruch College quickly responded, showcasing their championship pedigree. The second set witnessed a fierce battle, with Hunter unable to maintain their early momentum. Despite a strong offensive effort from Foley and
Annes Deljanin, Baruch edged out the Hawks with a narrow 24-26 victory.
Refusing to back down, the Purple and Gold rallied in the third set, displaying incredible tenacity and spirit.
Jimmy Chang, alongside Foley and Al-Amine Mbaye, spearheaded a determined offensive charge. The Hawks fought tooth and nail, securing a thrilling 28-26 win and sending waves of excitement through their supporters.
As the tension mounted in the fourth set, both teams fought fiercely, knowing that victory hung in the balance. However, the Bearcats' ultimately proved to be too formidable an opponent. Despite a gallant effort from
Cooper Moran and the Hunter squad, Baruch secured the decisive set 18-25, clinching the conference championship.
The Hawks also landed Moran and Foley on the All-Tournament team as Foley recorded an incredible 18 kills along with three aces, while Moran put up 46 assists, 10 digs, and a pair of blocks.
Though the outcome may not have favored the Hawks the team comes off of an impressive season, earning two of the conference's major awards and awaits ECAC's announcement for a possible next post-season tournament.
