Mahwah, N.J. - January 22, 2022 - The Springfield College men's volleyball team opened up Division III competition with a four-set win over nationally-ranked Rutgers-Newark and followed with a sweep of host Ramapo on Saturday afternoon. 

Springfield, which was ranked No. 2 in the latest AVCA/NVA Division III National Poll, is now 3-0 on the season. With the two victories, head coach Charlie Sullivan reached the 450 career win milestone, becoming just the 10th coach in the history of collegiate men's volleyball to reach that total.  To date, Sullivan owns a 450-186 record and is the third winningest active coach in the country for the sport, regardless of division. 

Next up for Springfield will be a showdown with nationally-ranked NYU on Wednesday at 6:30 pm. 

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Springfield 3, Rutgers-Newark 1 (24-26, 25-18, 25-23, 25-16)

 In a clash of nationally-ranked foes, Springfield held Rutgers-Newark to a -.019 hitting percentage and rallied from dropping the opening set to win in four.  Jarrett Anderson (San Jose, Calif.) made his season debut and notched 13 kills at a .400 clip to go along with seven digs.  Liam York (Kailua, Hawaii) added nine kills and Matt Lilley (Stony Brook, N.Y.) handed out 32 assists in helping the Pride hit .299.  Defensively, Johjan Mussa Robles (Caguas, Puerto Rico) racked up 18 digs and Nate Reynolds (Baltimore, Md.) produced nine blocks.  

The Pride struggled to find its offensive rhythm to start the match and went down 20-13 after an attack error.  However, Springfield sideout out with a kill from York and then used a key run to regain a 24-23 lead on a solo block from York.  However, the Scarlet Raiders scored the final three points, taking advantage of a pair of Pride errors to win a 26-24 set.

In the second, Rutgers-Newark was limited to just a -.259 hitting percentage as they totaled only four kills as a team.  After the Pride jumped out to an 11-7 lead on a kill from Anderson, RNU score five-straight points to take a 12-11 edge.  Springfield responded with eight-straight points, as the Scarlet Raiders had six attacking errors to help the Pride cruise to a 25-18 win.

Trailing 10-6 in the third, Springfield used a stuff block from Reynolds and kill from Noah Weislo (Orchard Park, N.Y.) to knot the frame up at 10, and would later break a 20-all tie with another kill from Noah Weislo and solo block from Reynolds for a two-point edge.  Lilley later connected with Anderson who buried a shot down the line for the 25-23 win.

Springfield held Rutgers-Newark to a negative hitting percentage again in the fourth, as they totaled just five kills at a -.158 clip.  An ace from Ethan Weislo (Orchard Park, N.Y.) put the Pride in front 19-11 and Anderson closed the door on the win with his 13th kill of the afternoon at 25-16. 

Springfield 3, Ramapo 0 (25-18, 25-21, 25-23)

The duo of Matt Lilley and Ethan Weislo combined for 40 assists as the Pride hit .395 in a sweep of Ramapo.  Liam York was impressive on the pin with 13 kills on a .550 hitting percentage, while Nate Reynolds and Noah Weislo  each chipped in seven kills.  Johjan Mussa Robles led all players with 12 digs as the Roadrunners were held in check with a .179 hitting percentage.  

Three-straight kills from York highlighted a 5-0 burst early in the first set as the Pride snagged an 11-4 edge.  Springfield pushed its lead to 19-7 on a Ramapo attack error and closed out the 25-18 win on a swing from Noah Weislo to complete a frame where the Pride had 15 kills at a .600 team hitting percentage.  

The Pride once again used a five-point burst in beginning of the second set to gain an 8-2 edge, only to have Ramapo respond with a 10-5 run to pull within 13-12.  The teams would trade points until three-consecutive Ramapo miscues allowed the Pride to open up a 19-15 edge.  Kills from Reynolds and York down the stretch completed a frame where the Pride hit .455 in a 25-21 victory. 

Springfield called for a quick timeout trailing 4-0 in the third and called for its second timeout facing a 16-11 deficit.  Out of the break, Springfield reeled off a 7-2 burst as Chris Parker (East Northport, N.Y.) converted out of the middle to force Ramapo into a timeout knotted at 18-all. Parker later delivered another kill and followed with an ace to give the Pride a 21-20 advantage and the visitors pulled away with the 25-23 win as York found the back corner to complete the sweep.