BRONXVILLE, N.Y. – The Neumann University men's volleyball team picked up the first two wins of the program with a pair of victories at a tri-match on Saturday afternoon. The Knights won 3-0, the first for the program, against Pratt Institute in the first match. Neumann then defeated host Sarah Lawrence College 3-0 to wrap up the afternoon.
In the win against Pratt,
Roddy Rountree tallied 10 kills, only two errors, and hit .471 to lead the Knights.
Ryan Bollinger added six kills.
Jules Maiorano handed out 26 assists.
Zack Strickland notched nine digs. The team tallied 12 service aces, led by Bollinger with four.
After trading points to start the match, the Cannoneers jumped out to an 11-5 advantage. A kill by Bollinger set up six straight points for the Knights and an 11-all score. Two kills by Rountree were part of four consecutive points for Neumann as it took a 15-12 lead. Rountree tallied the set winning kill for the Knights 25-20 win.
In the second set, Neumann was able to take an early 7-3 lead. The Knights put together consecutive points throughout the second set and won 25-14 on a service ace by Strickland. Again in the third set, the Knights were able to get an early lead, 6-2. A kill by Strickland sealed the 25-15 third set win and the first victory for the Knights.
Rountree and Strickland led Neumann in the 3-0 win over host Sarah Lawrence with six kills each. Bollinger and
Conner Kolek each added five kills. Maiorano dished out 23 assists. Maiorano, Bollinger and Stickland each had seven digs.
The Knights jumped out to an early 5-0 score to start the match against the Gryphons. A kill by Bollinger gave the Knights the 25-11 win in set one. Neumann again got a good jump in set two and took a 10-1 lead to start. A kill by Strickland gave the Knights a 25-11 win in set two.
The Gryphons stayed a little closer in the third set. The Knights were able to seal the win by scoring the final four points of the match and taking set three 25-17.
Neumann (2-8) will get back into conference action next weekend as it heads south. The Knights will face Southern Virginia on Friday and Eastern Mennonite on Saturday.
