Wilkes-Barre, PA – Hartwick Men's Volleyball spent their weekend in Wilkes-Barre, PA for a tri-match facing Kean and Wilkes, splitting their games.
THE BASICS
- Final Score: Kean 3, Hartwick 0
- Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA | Marts Center
- Records: Kean (8-4, 1-0 CVC) Hartwick (3-9, 0-0 DIII Independent)
HOW IT HAPPENED (Match 1)
Hartwick traveled to Pennsylvania for another weekend tri-match, opening the day against Kean University in a three-set contest. The Cougars jumped out to an early advantage in the first set with a 3-point run, forcing the Hawks to play from behind. Setter,
Nate Roorbach (East Aurora, NY), helped steady the offense with balanced distribution, allowing Hartwick to close the gap 12-14. Kean responded with a decisive six-point run to regain momentum and secure the opening set 25-15.
The Hawks battled hard in the second set, posting 14 kills- doubling Kean's output.
Matt Ramirez (Rome, NY) contributed 4 kills and added a key block from the middle as Hartwick remained competitive throughout the frame. Despite the offensive production, five service aces from the Cougars pushed Hartwick to a 25-20 loss.
The Blue and White pushed the Cougars to their limit in the third with a nail-biting 26-28 loss, delivering their stronger performance of the match. The Hawks showed significant improvement coming into the last set, holding onto the lead for most of it. Hartwick found early success with 4 consecutive kills split between Ramirez and
Keegan Doherty (Methuen, MA).
Anthony Ruggiero (Schenectady, NY) led the team in kills with five, while Ramirez followed closely to add four more to his total on the day. Kean regained their footing, posting 19 kills and a .326 hitting percentage against the Hawks.
Although the Cougars closed out the match, the teams finished with comparable offensive and defensive numbers. Hartwick remained within five in total kills, assists, and digs, showcasing steady improvement across the match.
THE BASICS
- Final Score: Wilkes 2, Hartwick 3
- Location: Wilkes-Barre, PA | Marts Center
- Records: Wilkes (6-9, 0-1 CVC) Hartwick (3-9, 0-0 DIII Independent)
Hartwick earned a hard-fought 5-set victory over Wilkes, rallying late to secure the 3-2 decision. The Hawks took the opening two before fighting against a Wilkes comeback, closing the match out in a decisive fifth set.
Hartwick opened the contest with a strong offensive execution.
Anthony Ruggiero managed five kills, connecting with Roorbach flawlessly. The Hawks tallied 11 total kills, hitting a .292, closing the gap in the first out with a final score of 25-20. Hartwick carried their energy into the second set, going on a 6-point run to bring them ahead. They recorded 10 kills, along with an ace to take control offensively.
Down 2-0, the Colonels responded in the next two sets, coming out on top with final scores of 25-21 and 25-11.
Ethan McCaw (Ilion, NY) recorded 4 kills,
Keegan Doherty adding 3 of his own. Despite the push-back from Wilkes, the Hawks persisted in their efforts to come out on top, only hitting one less kill than the Colonels.
The fifth set ended in an extremely narrow 15-13, the Hawks being able to scrape the win. McCaw posted a solo block and an ace, helping the Hartwick forge ahead early. Wilkes was on the Hawks' tails, finding defensive gaps throughout the match- putting up 8 kills to stay in it. With a 12-13 score in favor of Wilkes, a 3-point run from Doherty ultimately put Hartwick back on top. With 2 kills and a block, the Hawks were able to take it home, splitting their matches for the weekend.
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.
