ELIZABETHTOWN, PA - The Hartwick Men's Volleyball team headed to Elizabethtown for a season-opening doubleheader facing the Blue Jays, falling short in both games.
THE BASICS
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Final Score: Elizabethtown 3, Hartwick 0
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Location: Elizabethtown, PA | Thompson Gymnasium
- Records: Elizabethtown (2-0, 0-0 CVC) Hartwick (0-2, 0-0 DIII Independent)
BY THE NUMBERS
- Men's Volleyball played their first ever recorded games in program history, coming up with an 0-2 start to the season.
- Ethan McCaw (Ilion, NY) led the charge on the attack and defense, racking up a cumulative 12 kills and 15 digs.
- Nate Roorbach (East Aurora, NY) averaged 16 assists per game, pacing the offense with 32 assists on the day.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Match 1)
The Hawks' Men's Volleyball team debuted in Thompson Gymnasium, but started slowly heading into the first set.
The opposing Blue Jays managed to knock 15 kills on 19 total attacks, hitting a .789 against the visiting Hawks. Freshman setter, Nate Roorbach, worked to establish rhythm with his pin hitters, finishing the set with 4 assists.
In the second set, Roorbach and freshman outside, Anthony Ruggiero (Schenectady, NY), began to find their footing, as the rookie duo combined for 3 kills against Elizabethtown. Despite the progress, the momentum remained with the Blue Jays, who closed the set 25-8.
The Hawks picked up the energy to put up 11 points against Elizabethtown in the third- their highest output of the game. Outside, Ethan McCaw, contributed with 3 kills in the final set, tallying up 5 total kills throughout the match-up.
Ruggiero matched McCaw with 5 kills, both outsides sharing the team-high mark. Nate Roorbach led the attack with 12 assists, while McCaw anchored the defense with 5 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED (Match 2)
Following their loss in the first game of the day, the Blue and White responded with a renewed intensity, bringing Elizabethtown to 4 sets.
Matt Ramirez (Rome, NY) and Ethan McCaw put up for 2 kills each, posing 4 successful attacks against the Blue Jays. The set ended 25-13, favoring Elizabethtown, but the Hawks saw significant improvement on the court. Hartwick carried their rhythm into the second set, pushing their opponents into a hard-fought battle.
Hartwick managed to man 11 kills off of 24 attempts, hitting a match-high .333. Following an essential kill, middle hitter Xander Steadham (Cobleskill, NY) went on a 3-point service run, collecting an ace. Pedro Martins (São Paulo, Brazil) also posed as a threat to the Blue Jays' defense, with 1 service ace and 3 kills to push the Hawks ahead. Matt Ramirez recorded 3 attack points throughout the set, aiding the team in a 25-22 set win.
Eliabethtown responded heavily in the third, Hartwick only able to come up with 5 points against their steep 25. The momentum picked back up in the fourth, Hartwick gathering 18 points in the last set of the match.
Roorbach ran the Hawks' offense, notching 20 assists and 1 service ace. Ethan McCaw downed 2 more kills than the match prior, ending the second of the day with a total of 7, Ramirez following closely behind with 6. McCaw and Roorbach collaborated on defense as well, covering the court with 10 digs each.
About Hartwick College:
Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.
