PROVIDENCE, RI – Johnson & Wales University men's volleyball coach Scott Reslow isn't looking for moral victories, but his team should take pride in its effort during day one of the JWU Tip Off Tournament. While the Wildcats lost both matches, they were to number one Springfield, 3-1 (25-23, 18-25, 11-25, 25-13) and eighth-ranked Rutgers-Newark, 3-0 (16-25, 20-25, 22-25). 

Record:
Johnson & Wales: 2-4

JWU Statistical Leaders:
Cameron Ponce: 23 Assists, 10 Digs, 3 Blocks (vs. Springfield)
Brendan Baker: 11 Kills (vs. Rutgers-Newark)

The Lead:
The Wildcats fought back from a 20-18 deficit to win the first set thanks to three-straight points off the serve of Kyle Eva (Charlestown, RI). The Rutgers-Newark block scored points for the visitors but also disrupted the Wildcats' offense.  

Of Note:
After the first set, the difference in the Springfield match was the Pride's serving. Springfield had 15 aces in the match with nine coming from Ricardo Padilla Avala. Four came at the start of the third set as a 2-0 JWU lead quickly turned into an 11-2 SC advantage as he ran off 10-straight points.

Freshman setter Cameron Ponce (San Jose, Calif.) notched his second-straight double-double against the Pride. He had 23 assists and 10 digs as well as three blocks.  Against RUN, he recorded 30 assists – his second-highest total of the young season.

The Wildcats held their own at the net versus Springfield          , blocking seven balls, compared to eight by the visitors. The Pride had a 52-to-42 advantage in digs which contributed to a .311-to-.127 hitting percentage advantage. JWU limited Springfield to a .000 hitting percentage in the first set. Three different SC players had 15 kills.

Between Rutgers-Newark's strong serve and tall front row, Johnson & Wales struggle to get into a rhythm offensively. The Scarlet Raiders had a 9.5-to-3.5 blocking edge as well as .443-to-.229 advantage in hitting percentage.

For the third time in the last four matches, Brendan Baker (Providence, RI) reached double-digit kills against Rutgers-Newark. He notched a team-high 11 kills. Ryan Kennedy (West Barnstable, Mass.) was next at seven winners while Eva added six.

Up Next:
The Wildcats host day two of the JWU Tip Off Tournament on Saturday. The hosts take on Endicott at 11 a.m. Due to the impending winter weather, the tournament has been shortened to just three matches.