#15 Eagles Drop To #2 New Paltz and #7 Dominican

NEW PALTZ, N.Y.- Juniata traveled to New Paltz for a Saturday afternoon tri-match. The Eagles fell to the #2 Hawks 3-0 in the first match (18-25, 12-25, 17-25).

Against the Hawks, Kyle Seeley (Ellicott, City, Md./Howard) led the offense with 10 kills and also compiled four digs on the defensive end. Ryan Shelton (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) picked up nine assists. Mahlon Bender (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) had three block assists.

The Eagles hit the ball well in the first set as they had a .467 hitting percentage. Juniata led 13-12 before New Paltz went on an 8-2 run to go ahead 20-13. JC was able to get to within five points, 22-17, but the Hawks outscored the Eagles 3-1 to claim the set.

The second set was tied 3-3 before New Paltz went on a 7-0 run to lead 10-3. The Hawks led the rest of the way as Juniata never threatened.

New Paltz used a 5-0 run in the third to go up 11-5. JC narrowed the gap to 13-10 before another Hawk run increased the SUNY advantage to 17-10.  The Eagles tried to mount a rally but were unsuccessful as they dropped the set and the match.

Juniata ended the day with #7 Dominican. JC was able to claim a set but the Stars were victorious 3-1 (17-25, 19-25, 25-22, 18-25).

Seeley tallied 18 kills and three block assists. Quinn Looper (Houston, Texas./Episcopal) had 31 assists. Brendan Smith(Fuquay-Varina, N.C./Fuquay-Varina) led in digs with eight while Chad Albert (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) assisted on four blocks.

Dominican led 6-3 in the first set but the Eagles recovered to tied the frame up at 9-all and went ahead 10-9 on a Bender kill. DU went up 12-10 on two attack errors by Quinn Peterson (Las Vegas, Nev./Shadow Ridge) and a service ace. Juniata was able to tie set at 14-14 but the Stars were able the wrangle the lead back. JC got to 18-16 but Dominican ended on a 7-1 to take the set.

An 11-10 Eagle lead in the second frame turned into a 15-11 Star lead. Juniata could not reduce its deficit to less than three points as Dominican won by six.

The third set saw things turn in the Eagles' favor. Dominican's lead stood at 15-14 before a JC run swung the advantage to the Eagles, 17-15. Juniata was able to grow its lead to 23-19. The Eagles reached set point twice and got the win on the second try on a Peterson kill to make it 2-1.

Dominican had a 14-7 lead in the fourth stanza. JC was able to chip away and was able to get to 19-14. The Stars tacked on three points to go up 22-14 and their lead never fell below six points as they won the set and the match.

Juniata will be idle for spring break and returns to action on March 16 when it travels to Hoboken to play defending National Champion #5 Stevens. Match time will be at 4:00 p.m.