Mustangs Down SUNY IT, Move Closer to Wins Record
STEVENSON, Md. - Playing without its top two hitters due to illness, the Stevenson University men's volleyball team received a season-high 15 kills from senior Ryan McDowell (Germantown/Seneca Valley) and a double double by senior Steve Grossnickle (Perry Hall/Calvert Hall) to snap a two-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over SUNY IT Sunday at Carolyn Manuzsak Student Union Gymnasium.
The 30-25, 30-28, 30-18 victory moves the Mustangs (14-8) within one more win of the school record for wins in a season set in 2006 and 2008.
Stevenson was without the services of sophomore Jason Matkowski (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent) and senior J.R. Jackson (Havre de Grace/Havre de Grace) who have combined for 461 kills and 85 total blocks this season.
McDowell led three Mustangs who totaled 10 or more kills as Grossnickle and junior David Lloyd (Germantown/Seneca Valley) each added 10. Grossnickle also had a team-high 12 digs to total his second double double of the season.
In addition to his 238 kills, Matkowski also leads the team with five double doubles.
After leading from start to finish in game one, Stevenson struggled in the second, hitting just .213 with seven attack errors and three service errors.
The game featured 13 ties, with the last coming at 26-26, until Lloyd, McDowell and freshman Caleb Duff (Belle Glade, Fla./Belle Glade) combined for four kills to lead the Mustangs.
Lloyd had five of his 10 kills in the third game while McDowell had four as the duo totaled nine of the team's 12 en route to the 12-point victory.
Senior Anthony Cammarata (Fallston/Calvert Hall) totaled 10 digs for the third time this season while Duff finished with eight kills, two shy of his career-high.
Stevenson returns to action next weekend at the York (N.Y.) Classic. The Mustangs face New Jersey City for the third time this season on Friday at 5:00 p.m., before taking on No. 15-ranked SUNY New Paltz at 9:00 p.m.
