Brooklyn, N.Y.- The Hunter College men's volleyball team opened up its 2025 campaign on the road against New York University on Thursday night at the Brooklyn Athletic Facility. Despite falling in three sets (25-17, 25-12, 25-22), the Hawks showed promise for the season, particularly in a tightly contested third set.

Hunter (0-1) was led by  Kyle Foley, who delivered a standout performance, recording six kills on a .625 hitting percentage while contributing a dig and two blocks. Transfer Felipe Delgado made an immediate impact, tallying two kills and two blocks while hitting .333, proving to be a key addition to the roster.

Brandon Yeh facilitated the offense with a team-high 10 assists and chipped in with two digs. In their first collegiate matches, Wesley Stubbs and Ahmed Mohamed combined for five kills. Mohamed also chipped in a block, while Stubbs contributed defensively with two digs. Annes Deljanin and Demetri Gurnelos also added three kills a piece, with Deljanin recording the team's lone ace.

Despite the loss, Hunter's defense showed moments of resilience, as Crisostomo Ibarra and Jon Domingo added valuable contributions in the back row.

The Hawks found their rhythm in the third set, challenging NYU (4-0) and pushing the score to 25-22 before ultimately dropping the frame. Hunter's ability to improve and adapt throughout the match, particularly against a strong opponent, suggests a promising season ahead. 

The Purple and Gold return to the court for the team's home opener against Springfield in the Sportsplex at 6:00 p.m.