JERSEY CITY, NJ…Newbury College became the first team to three-peat champion, sweeping three matches, including the final against Stevenson University to win the 15th annual Gothic Knight Men's Volleyball Invitational, hosted by New Jersey City University on Saturday at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. Newbury, which also won the title in 2007 and 2008, is now 9-0 all-time in the event, tying Sacred Heart University for the best record in the 15-year history of the tournament.
Newbury (12-1), ranked seventh nationally, won its 11
th consecutive match by defeating Stevenson (5-4) in the finals, 3-0 (30-18, 30-25, 30-11). Sophomore setter
Matt Talamantes (Sylmar, CA/Viewpoint), an All-Tournament team selection last year, was named the
Most Outstanding Player of the tournament after he delivered 75 assists in six games for a .472 percentage. He averaged 12.50 assists per set and landed four aces.
SUNY New Paltz (6-4) took third place by knocking off North East Collegiate Volleyball Association Metro Division rival NJCU, 3-1 (30-23, 28-30, 30-27, 30-13). Wentworth Institute of Technology (3-5) defeated SUNYIT (0-9), 3-1 (30-23, 30-26, 27-30, 30-24), to claim fifth place.
Newbury won Pool A by sweeping SUNYIT, 3-0 (30-22, 30-22, 30-11) and SUNY New Paltz, 3-0 (30-28, 30-19, 30-25). The Hawks finished second in the pool with a 3-0 win over SUNYIT (30-14, 30-19, 30-22).
Stevenson, which had been a combined 1-5 in its first two tournament appearances in 2003 and 2008 when it was known as Villa Julie College, went 2-1 in the tournament and won Pool B. It outlasted Wentworth, 3-2 (30-24, 28-30, 30-23, 27-30, 15-12) before upending NJCU, 3-0 (30-28, 30-25, 30-25), to claim the top seed in the pool. NJCU defeated Wentworth, 3-0 (30-25, 30-26, 30-27), in the opening match of pool play.
Including
Talamantes, Newbury had three players voted to the All-Tournament Team by the coaches.
Junior middle hitter
Mark Thomas (Wilbrahim, MA/Minnechaug Regional) had a .514 hitting percentage (24-5-37) and averaged 4.00 kills in six sets, while adding four blocks (0.67/set). Freshman outside hitter
Seung Hee Kim (Plainview, NY/Plainview JFK) had 22 kills and five blocks for the Nighthawks.
Stevenson senior middle hitter J.R. Jackson (Havre De Grace, MD/Havre De Grace) was named to the All-Tournament team for the second straight year after slamming 43 kills and a .455 attack percentage in 10 games (43-8-77) with six blocks. He averaged 4.30 kills and 0.60 blocks per set. Mustang junior opposite David Lloyd (Germantown, MD/Seneca Valley) also was selected with 28 kills and seven blocks.
New Paltz had one selection to the All-Tournament Team as freshman middle hitter Kevin Stross (Port Washington, NY/Schreiber) hit .475 in 10 games with 34 kills (34-6-59), eight service aces and five blocks. He averaged 3.40 kills, 080 aces and 0.50 blocks per set.
Both of NJCU's freshmen middle blockers were voted to the All-Tournament Team.
DANNY KOCHANSKI (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) had a .410 hitting percentage and a team-best 32 kills (32-7-61), adding seven blocks in 10 sets, for averages of 3.20 kills and 0.70 blocks.
AUSTIN BRYANT (Virginia Beach, VA/Kempsville) posted a .362 percentage, 23 kills (23-6-47) and a tournament-best 10 blocks, averaging 2.30 kills and 1.00 blocks per set.
Wentworth sophomore outside hitter Javier Feliciano (San Juan, PR/Nuestra Señora del Carmen) was the final selection the All-Tournament Team.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
NJCU MATCH RECAPS
***************NJCU def. Wentworth, 3-0 (30-25, 20-26, 30-27)***************
NJCU, facing Wentworth for the first time since February 23, 2003, swept the Leopards in three games, 30-25, 30-26, 30-27, with a huge defensive effort that included a season-high 11.0 blocks and 41 digs.
NJCU won its sixth consecutive match and 18th straight set, to improve to 7-1. Wentworth dropped to 2-4. NJCU leads the all-time series, 4-3.
Bryant had a sensational effort with eight blocks (seven assisted) and seven kills (7-3-15, .267). Sophomore setter
JUSTIN BEAUMONT (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) delivered 18 assists for a .419 percentage and five blocks, while sophomore setter
JORGE RODRIGUEZ (Havana, Cuba/Memorial) dished 18 assists.
Kochanski collected a .429 attack percentage and eight kills (8-2-14). Sophomore outside hitter
MARLEY PENA-GUZMAN (Atlanta, GA/Central Gwinnett (GA)) chipped in nine kills (9-6-29, .103) and three aces while freshman outside hitter
KENNY LISK (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) had nine kills (9-4-23, .217).
Senior opposite
THIAGO SIQUEIRA (Newark, NJ/Science) finished with six kills and four blocks while sophomore libero
#CHRIS EDRA#
(Edison, NJ/JP Stevens) tallied seven digs.
Wentworth was led by sophomore outside hitter Feliciano with a match-best 13 kills (13-5-29) and seven digs while hitting .276. Sophomore opposite Alfredo Flores (San Juan, PR/Colegio Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) had 10 digs and six kills (6-2-19, .211). Leopard junior setter George Yau (Brockton, MA/Brockton) tallied 26 assists. Sophomore outside hitter Derek Portugal (Barrington, RI/Barrington) had three solo blocks.
***************Stevenson def. NJCU, 3-0 (30-28, 30-25, 30-25)***************
Stevenson hit .320 as a team with 44 kills (44-11-103), led by a .500 percentage from All-Tournament team repeater J.R. Jackson, who had 12 kills (12-1-22) and three blocks. Lloyd added 11 kills and junior opposite Steve Grossnickle (Perry Hall, MD/Calvert Hall) also posted a .500 percentage with nine kills (9-0-18) and 11 digs. Jackson, Lloyd and Grossnickle accounted for 32 of the Mustangs kills.
Also for SU, freshman setter Dean Massimini (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township) finished with 37 assists and sophomore outside/middle hitter Jason Matkowski (Warminster, PA/William Tennent) chipped in six kills.
The loss for NJCU ended its winning streak at six matches. NJCU, in defeat, still hit .241 as a team with 48 kills, led by
Kochanski who floored 13 and hit .435 (13-3-23) with two blocks.
Bryant tallied 10 kills (10-2-18) with a .444 percentage. Senior outside hitter
KEVIN RODGERS (Clifton, NJ/Clifton) had seven kills and hit .217 (7-2-23).
Pena added seven kills and two aces while
Lisk floored six winners (6-2-15, .267). NJCU rotated in two setters again.
Beaumont dished 25 assists while
Rodriguez provided 17.
Edra defended a match-best 13 digs.
NJCU still leads the all-time series, 5-4, but the Mustangs have now won three of the last four meetings since last season.
*************SUNY New Paltz def. NJCU, 3-1 (30-23, 28-30, 30-27, 30-13)*************
The third place match marked the first of three meetings this season between NJCU and New Paltz and the Hawks defeated the Knights for the seventh consecutive time and lead the all-time series, 12-2.
New Paltz hit .322 in the match with 68 kills (68-22-143) and Stross caused much of the damage with 19 kills (19-2-30) and a .567 attack percentage, adding two blocks. Junior opposite Daniel Liberto (Rush, NY/Rush-Henrietta) landed 18 kills (18-7-34), hit .324, and collected 11 digs and three blocks to complete the double-double. Sophomore setter Andrew Cassius (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood) provided 61 assists and a .492 set percentage with seven digs. He had 121 assists in three matches on Saturday.
Also for the Hawks, senior middle hitter Jake Moore (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson) had 13 kills and 11 digs for the second NP double-double. He hit .250 (13-5-32). Senior outside hitter Mark Blair (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Pleasant Boro) finished with nine kills (9-3-17, .353) and nine digs.
Kochanski had 11 kills for the Knights, hitting .375 (11-2-24) with three blocks, while Lisk matched him for the team high with 11 winners (11-4-29, .241). Rodgers finished with 14 digs, eight kills and three blocks (two solo) to increase his career kills mark to 1,044.
Other standouts for NJCU included Bryant, who hit .357 with six kills (6-1-14) and Siqueira also had six kills with eight digs. Rodriguez had 23 assists while Beaumont handed out 17 assists with two aces.
************POOL A, MATCH 1: Newbury def. SUNYIT, 3-0 (30-22, 30-22, 30-11)************
Freshman outside hitter James Krizka (Buffalo Grove, IL/Buffalo Grove) led the way with 11 kills (11-4-21, .333) and seven digs while Kim finished with 10 kills and sophomore middle hitter Max Daley (Cranston, RI/Cranston East) hit .571 with nine winners (9-1-14). Senior setter Matthew Sadowski (Feeding Hills, MA/Agawam) had 35 assists.
The Wildcats received nine kills from freshman outside hitter Ryan Meller (Eden, NY/Eden Central) and 17 assists from junior setter Jonathan Brochu (Latham, NY/Shaker). Junior defensive specialist Alex Rahmel (Cornwall, NY/Cornwall) had 15 digs.
********POOL A, MATCH 2: SUNY New Paltz def. SUNYIT, 3-0 (30-14, 30-19, 30-22)********
Liberto led the Hawks with 11 kills and hit .400 (11-3-20) as New Paltz had a team attack percentage of .398 with 45 kills (45-10-88). Stross landed seven winners (7-1-13) and five aces while Moore chipped in seven kills. Blair hit .667 with six kills (6-0-9). Cassius had 25 assists; freshman setter Frank Ciccone (Long Beach, NY/Long Beach) collected 13 assists. Brochu contributed 17 assists in defeat for the Wildcats.
*******POOL A, MATCH 3: Newbury def. SUNY New Paltz, 3-0 (30-28, 30-19, 30-25)**********
In one of the better matches—not indicated by the score—Thomas was unstoppable with 16 kills for a .565 attack rate (16-3-23) and three blocks. Senior outside hitter Bryan McDermand (Palatine, IL/Montini Catholic) pounded 10 kills (10-4-23, .261) and defended 10 digs for a double-double. Talamantes paced the Nighthawks with 41 assists, a .471 set percentage and seven digs.
Junior outside hitter Joshua Aberly (Palatine, IL/Palantine) had 10 digs, seven kills and four blocks while Kim finished with seven kills and three blocks. Daley also had three blocks.
New Paltz received 35 assists from Cassius, 10 kills from Liberto and eight kills and a .312 attack percentage from Stross (8-3-16, .312). Moore tallied seven digs and six kills.
****POOL B, MATCH 2: Stevenson def. Wentworth, 3-2 (30-24, 28-30, 30-23, 27-30, 15-12)****
In the most competitive match of the tournament, Feliciano had a sensational effort in defeat with 25 kills (25-9-60, .267), 22 digs and five aces. Had Wentworth won the match, NJCU would have advanced to the finals.
Stevenson saw five players reach double figures in kills, led by an impressive 20-kill (20-2-31), .581 percentage showing from Jackson. His effort was aided by Matkowski, who landed 16 kills and dished 15 digs, while Lloyd added 15 digs, 13 kills and four blocks. Senior middle hitter Ryan McDowell (Germantown, MD/Seneca Valley) added 11 kills and hit .611 with no errors on 18 attempts, while stuffing four blocks. Grossnickle collected 10 kills and seven digs. Massimini chalked up 35 assists and senior setter Anthony Cammarata (Fallston, MD/Calvert Hill) chipped in 27 helpers.
Wentworth saw 54 assists come from Yau. Sophomore middle blocker Lowell Jesmer (Rochester, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) had 14 kills and 11 digs while Flores chipped in 13 kills and nine digs.
****FIFTH PLACE MATCH: Wentworth def. SUNYIT, 3-1 (30-23, 30-26, 27-30, 30-24)****
In defeat, three players reached double figures in kills for SUNYIT. Senior middle hitter Chris Abel (Clifton Park, NY/Schenendehowa) had 11 kills while Meller finished with 16 digs and 12 kills and freshman outside hitter Dominick Hobdy (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin) collected 10 kills, eight digs and seven blocks. Freshman opposite Adam Wightman (Eden, NY/Eden Central) added 10 digs and nine kills. Brochudished 36 assists. Sophomore defensive specialist Tysheem Foy-Carter (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls) provided 16 digs while Rahmel had 15 digs. Wentworth's leaders were not available.
******CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH: Newbury def. Stevenson, 3-0 (30-18, 30-25, 30-11)******
Newbury hit a staggering .402 as a team with 46 kills (46-9-92) and Stevenson never had the opportunity to answer the potent Nighthawk attack. Newbury hit .303 in the first game (15-5-33) and .429 in the second set (16-4-28) before capping the night with a .484 percentage (15-0-31)—not making an error in the final frame. The Mustangs hit .438 themselves in the second set but were negative in the third and never came close.
Talamantes led the Nighthawks with 34 assists on 72 attempts for a .472 percentage and hit .625 with five kills (5-0-8). McDermand powered his way to a near double-double in the final with 12 digs and nine kills for a .571 percentage (9-1-14), while landing two aces. Aberly slammed 10 kills and hit .421 (10-2-19) with five assisted blocks. Thomas contributed eight kills and a .429 attack rate (8-2-14). Daley hit .500 with seven winners (7-0-14) and stuffed six blocks.
Jackson led Stevenson in the final with 11 kills (11-5-24, .250) while
Grossnickle finished with seven kills.
Massimini had 31 assists.
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2009 GOTHIC KNIGHT MEN'S VOLLEYBALL INVITATIONAL
RESULTS BY TEAM
#7 Newbury College (12-1) (First place)
Newbury def. SUNYIT, 3-0 (30-22, 30-22, 30-11)
Newbury def. SUNY New Paltz, 3-0 (30-28, 30-19, 30-25)
Newbury def. Stevenson, 3-0 (30-18, 30-25, 30-11)
Stevenson University (5-4) (Second place)
Stevenson def. Wentworth, 3-2 (30-24, 28-30, 30-23, 27-30, 15-12)
Stevenson def. NJCU, 3-0 (30-28, 30-25, 30-25)
Newbury def. Stevenson, 3-0 (30-18, 30-25, 30-11)
SUNY New Paltz (6-4) (Third place)
SUNY New Paltz def. SUNYIT, 3-0 (30-14, 30-19, 30-22)
Newbury def. SUNY New Paltz, 3-0 (30-28, 30-19, 30-25)
SUNY New Paltz def. NJCU, 3-1 (30-23, 28-30, 30-27, 30-13)
New Jersey City University (7-3) (Fourth place)
NJCU def. Wentworth, 3-0 (30-25, 30-26, 30-27)
Stevenson def. NJCU, 3-0 (30-28, 30-25, 30-25)
SUNY New Paltz def. NJCU, 3-1 (30-23, 28-30, 30-27, 30-13)
Wentworth Institute of Technology (3-5) (Fifth place)
NJCU def. Wentworth, 3-0 (30-25, 30-26, 30-27)
Stevenson def. Wentworth, 3-2 (30-24, 28-30, 30-23, 27-30, 15-12)
Wentworth def. SUNYIT, 3-1 (30-23, 30-26, 27-30, 30-24)
SUNYIT (0-9) (Sixth place)
Newbury def. SUNYIT, 3-0 (30-22, 30-22, 30-11)
SUNY New Paltz def. SUNYIT, 3-0 (30-14, 30-19, 30-22)
Wentworth def. SUNYIT, 3-1 (30-23, 30-26, 27-30, 30-24)
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RESULTS BY POOL
POOL A
(Newbury College, 2-0; SUNY New Paltz, 1-1; SUNYIT, 0-2)
Newbury def. SUNYIT, 3-0 (30-22, 30-22, 30-11)
SUNY New Paltz def. SUNYIT, 3-0 (30-14, 30-19, 30-22)
Newbury def. SUNY New Paltz, 3-0 (30-28, 30-19, 30-25)
POOL B
(Stevenson University, 2-0; New Jersey City University, 1-1; Wentworth Institute of Technology, 0-2)
NJCU def. Wentworth, 3-0 (30-25, 30-26, 30-27)
Stevenson def. Wentworth, 3-2 (30-24, 28-30, 30-23, 27-30, 15-12)
Stevenson def. NJCU, 3-0 (30-28, 30-25, 30-25)
PLAYOFFS
Third Place match (Second place Pool A vs. Second Place Pool B):
SUNY New Paltz def. NJCU, 3-1 (30-23, 28-30, 30-27, 30-13)
Fifth Place match (Third place Pool A vs. Third Place Pool B):
Wentworth def. SUNYIT, 3-1 (30-23, 30-26, 27-30, 30-24)
2008 TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
(First place Pool A vs. First Place Pool B):
Newbury def. Stevenson, 3-0 (30-18, 30-25, 30-11)
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2009 ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
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(as selected by the head coaches of the six participating schools)
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NAME
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SCHOOL
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YR
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POS
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HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL
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AUSTIN BRYANT
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New Jersey City University
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FR
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MB
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Virginia Beach, VA/Kempsville
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Javier Feliciano
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Wentworth Institute of Technology
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SO
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OH
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San Juan, PR/Nuestra Señora del Carmen
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J.R. Jackson
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Stevenson University
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SR
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OH/MH
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Havre De Grace, MD/Havre De Grace
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Seung Hee Kim
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Newbury College
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FR
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OH
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Plainview, NY/Plainview JFK
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DANNY KOCHANSKI
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New Jersey City University
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FR
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MB
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Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne
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David Lloyd
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Stevenson University
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JR
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OH/OPP
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Germantown, MD/Seneca Valley
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Kevin Stross
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SUNY New Paltz
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FR
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MH
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Port Washington, NY/Schreiber
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Matt Talamantes
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Newbury College
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SO
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S
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Sylmar, CA/Viewpoint
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Mark Thomas
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Newbury College
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JR
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MH
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Wilbrahim, MA/Minnechaug Regional
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MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Matt Talamantes (Newbury)
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PAST GOTHIC KNIGHT INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS
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02/07/2009:
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Newbury College def. Stevenson University, 3-0 (30-18, 30-25, 30-11)
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02/09/2008:
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Newbury College def. New Jersey City University, 3-0 (30-22, 30-16, 30-25)
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02/17/2007:
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Newbury College def. New Jersey City University, 3-2 (26-30, 30-22, 31-29, 26-30, 16-14)
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02/18/2006:
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New Jersey City University def. #14 Ramapo College, 3-2 (24-30, 30-21, 25-30, 30-26, 15-11)
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02/19/2005:
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#9 MIT def. New Jersey City University, 3-1 (24-30, 32-30, 30-28, 30-20)
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02/21/2004:
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Philadelphia Biblical University def. New Jersey City University, 3-0 (30-26, 30-22, 31-29)
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02/23/2003:
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New Jersey City University def. USMMA, 3-2 (27-30, 27-30, 30-27, 30-24, 15-12)
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02/16/2002:
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City College of New York def. Eastern Mennonite University, 2-0 (30-22, 30-20)
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02/11/2001:
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Sacred Heart University def. USMMA, 3-0 (30-14, 30-19, 30-15)
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02/13/2000:
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Wentworth Institute def. Mount St. Vincent, 3-2 (15-12, 11-15, 15-10, 11-15, 15-10)
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02/13/1999:
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D'Youville College def. College of Mount St. Vincent, 3-0 (15-3, 15-4, 15-8)
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02/14/1998:
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College of Mount St. Vincent def. USMMA, 3-0 (15-5, 15-3, 15-9)
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02/22/1997:
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New Jersey City University def. USMMA, 3-0 (15-9, 17-15, 15-10)
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02/17/1996:
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Ramapo College
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02/25/1995:
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Sacred Heart University def. York College, 3-0 (15-12, 15-6, 16-14)
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