NEWARK, NJ – Rutgers-Newark clinched the 2010 EIVA Hay Championship by sweeping Harvard, 30-28, 30-26, 30-24, in The Golden Dome.
Rutgers-Newark 3, Harvard 0
Sophomore outside hitter
Marcin Midura posted a match-high 17 kills while senior middle blocker
Jon Keller hit .500 with nine kills plus an ace, a solo block and seven assisted blocks as the Scarlet Raiders (11-11, EIVA Hay 7-0) stopped the Crimson (5-13, EIVA Hay 3-2) in straight sets.
Rutgers-Newark, winners of 10 of its last 12 matches, pulled to .500 for the first time this season. The Raiders will face the yet-to-be-determined No. 3 seed from the EIVA Tait Division in the upcoming league championship tournament. Rutgers-Newark still has a Monday home date against Sacred Heart in EIVA Tait play.
The divisional title highlights the rebuilding efforts of third-year head coach
Karl France whose team shared the EIVA Hay title in 2009 after falling from the EIVA Hay Division following the 2008 season. This season, the Raiders shocked EIVA Tait powerhouse Penn State, 3-1, while sweeping George Mason to prove that the program is back.
Junior setter
Jeff Zornig notched 39 assists, made six digs, got in on four blocks and roped five the Raiders’ nine aces in the contest. Sophomore right side Aus
Austin Pappas also hit .500 with seven kills, three aces, a solo block and an assisted block. Sophomore outside hitter
Eduardo Hernandez also had seven kills while getting in on four blocks.
Senior outside hitter Eric Kuld paced the Crimson with 15 kills and seven digs while sophomore outside hitter Matt Jones recorded 14 kills and a pair of aces. Freshman setter Rob Lothman dished out 35 assists and senior middle blocker Soren Rosier added six kills, two aces and four assisted blocks.
Zornig delivered all five of his aces and Midura had six kills in the opening set when the Raider survived a paltry .121 hitting effort to squeeze out a win.
In the second set, Midura added six more kills and Keller got in on six of Rutgers-Newark eight blocks in the frame to take control of the match.
Zornig dished out 13 assists as the Raiders hit a scorching .520 (15 kills, 2 errors, 25 attacks) in the final set.
Rutgers-Newark visits Springfield for a 4 p.m. match on Saturday.