Union, N.J. - February 7, 2015 - The Springfield College men's volleyball team split a pair of matches at the Clash at Kean on Saturday afternoon.  The Pride swept Stevenson in its first match of the day before falling to host Kean in straight sets.

Springfield, which was ranked third in the latest AVCA Division III National Poll, is now 5-3 on the season and lost to a Division III team for just the sixth time in the past four years.

Springfield will play again on Thursday evening when it travels to play nationally-ranked Rivier for a 7:00 meeting.

Springfield 3, Stevenson

Led by the outside hitter duo of Ricardo Padilla Ayala (San Juan, Puerto Rico) and Ryan Malone (Chicopee, Mass.), the Springfield College men's volleyball team swept Stevenson University by the set scores of 25-18, 25-13, 25-23.

Padilla Ayala totaled 14 kills five digs, and three blocks at a .407 clip, while Malone added 12 kills, hitting .409, to go along with six digs, three blocks, and two aces to lead the Pride to its fifth-straight win. Eric Johnson (Tustin, Calif.) handed out 36 assists to lead Springfield to a .352 hitting percentage, and Shaun Ermi (Rush, N.Y.) chipped in six kills on eight errorless swing and three blocks.  Matthew Peretto (Vallejo, Calif.) registered a team-best seven digs in the win.

In the opening game, Springfield held an early 10-8 lead and broke open the set with a 9-4 surge following Malone's fourth kill of the frame.  The Mustangs would get as close 19-15 after a Springfield attack error, but the Pride regrouped with four-straight points, thanks to an ace and kill from Malone as Springfield would take the opening set, 25-18.  The Pride posted 16 kills in the frame, hitting .414 as a squad. 

Springfield's offense put on a show in the second set, producing 14 kills on 23 errorless attempts for a .609 hitting percentage.  After a Mustang kill cut Springfield's lead to 16-12, the Pride posted the next five points, kickstarted by a kills and ace from Greg Woods (Middletown, Conn.).  Malone would cap off the set with his 10th kill of the match as Springfield cruised to a 25-15 win.

The third set was the closest as it featured eight ties.  The Pride found itself down 21-17 late in the third, but turned to Padilla Ayala who was unstoppable down the stretch.  The first-year's eighth kill of the set knotted things at 23, and a Sean Zuvich (San Pedro, Calif.) solo stuff gave Springfield match point. Out of a Stevenson timeout, the Mustangs committed their sixth attack error of the frame as the Pride completed the sweep.

Kean 3, Springfield 0

For just the sixth time in the past four seasons, the Springfield College men's volleyball team was bested by a Division III opponent, this time to host Kean University.  The Cougards prevailed by the set scores of 25-19, 25-13, 30-28.

Angel Perez (Naranjito, Puerto Rico) had a team-best 11 kills at a .450 clip, while Sean Zuvich (San Pedro, Calif.) added nine kills, and Keaton Pieper (Dallas, Texas) notched 23 assists.

Springfield, which entered the weekend as the nation's top-ranked blocking team, posted just one block in the match and struggled from the service line, committing 13 errors without recording an ace.

Kean led from the onset of the first set, as Springfield could only get as close as 16-13 following a Zuvich kill.  The hosts hit .400 in the frame and closed out the game scoring nine of the final 15 points to clinch a 25-18 win.

The Cougars offense was stellar in the second hit, hitting at a .600 clip and never surrendering the lead after storming out to a 7-3 lead.  Zuvich produced four kills in the frame, but Kean's six service aces proved to be the difference.

The Pride put forth its best effort in the third set, a game that featured 15 ties and four lead changes.  Springfield owned a 13-11 cushion following a block from Eric Johnson (Tustin, Calif.) and Shaun Ermi (Rush, N.Y.), only to have Kean rattle off an 8-4 run to gain a 21-17 lead.  The Pride fought off four match points before Kean pieced together the final two points to wrap up the sweep.