1/21/2026
MAHWAH, NJ – Rutgers (2-1) picked up its second win of the season with a 3-0 sweep over Ramapo (1-2) on Tuesday night at the Bradley Center, though the final score doesn’t tell the full story of a competitive match that featured 15 tie scores and seven lead changes.
The Scarlet Raiders had to battle through two extra-point sets before pulling away in the third, winning by scores of 28-26, 25-23, 25-19 in front of 70 fans.
Stars of the Match
Aleks Kolodziej led all players with 11 kills while hitting .348 and adding three service aces for 15.0 total points. The junior middle was a constant threat throughout the match, particularly in the final two sets where he combined with setter Duncan Sturt for multiple crucial points. Sturt has done exceptionally well for the Scarlet Raiders as a freshman, winning newcomer of the week designation from the CVC. Rutgers D1 transfer setter Colin Stevens has decided to drop from the team leaving setter responsibilities with the first year player from Livingston, NJ for the 2026 season.
Alex Solodky matched Kolodziej’s 11 kills and hit an impressive .368 for the match. The outside hitter was especially clutch down the stretch, recording key kills in both deuce-score situations and helping seal the third set.
Michael Suarez added nine kills on .333 hitting, while Vincent Lopez contributed three kills on six swings without an error (.500) and led the team with five service aces to finish with 8.5 points.
Set-by-Set Breakdown
Set 1 (28-26 RU): The opening frame was a back-and-forth affair that featured three ties and one lead change. Ramapo jumped out to early leads of 4-1 and 9-6, but Rutgers-Newark methodically clawed back. The Scarlet Raiders hit an outstanding .441 with 18 kills and just three errors in the set. Trailing 26-25, Rutgers-Newark scored the final three points, including back-to-back service aces by Sean McNally of Ramapo that ironically went to the visitors, to steal the opener.
Set 2 (25-23 RU): Rutgers-Newark came out strong, building leads of 10-5 and 22-14 behind efficient play from Kolodziej and strong serving. The Raiders hit .148 for the set compared to Ramapo’s .138. The Green Raiders made a late push, cutting the deficit to 24-21, but couldn’t complete the comeback. Kolodziej’s final kill of the set closed it out.
Set 3 (25-19 RU): After two tight sets, Rutgers-Newark finally found separation in the third. The visitors built a 12-7 lead and never looked back, eventually pushing the margin to 22-16. Sebastian Rodriguez showed flashes for Ramapo with two kills, but attack errors proved costly. Massimo Roco’s kill ended the match as Rutgers-Newark hit .130 to Ramapo’s .156 in the decisive frame.
Team Stats
Rutgers-Newark hit .262 as a team (37 kills, 15 errors, 84 attempts) compared to Ramapo’s .223 (35 kills, 14 errors, 94 attempts). The Scarlet Raiders held a 37-31 edge in assists and a 39-29 advantage in digs, led by Kaden Komine’s match-high 10 digs from the libero position.
The serving game proved pivotal, with Rutgers-Newark recording nine aces to Ramapo’s three, though the visitors also committed 13 service errors to just three for the home team.
Ramapo Effort
Despite the loss, Ramapo received solid contributions from several players. Josh Barrett led the Green Raiders with eight kills and hit .280, while Jan Tracz added nine kills despite battling consistency (six errors on 27 swings). Trevor Van Valkenburgh contributed seven kills in two sets of action, and setter Joseph Duca distributed 29 assists while adding six digs and a kill.
Sean McNally provided steady defensive play with nine digs from the libero spot.
Looking Ahead
Rutgers-Newark improved to 2-1 overall (0-0 CVC) with the victory and will look to build on this momentum with a trip to Poughkeepsie this Saturday to face both Vassar and Mt. Aloysius. Ramapo dropped to 1-1 (0-0 Skyline) and will aim to bounce back in its next outing against King’s at home Saturday before facing NJCU in a NJAC matchup next Tuesday .
The match showcased the competitiveness of Division III men’s volleyball, with both teams displaying moments of excellence despite the sweep. Rutgers-Newark’s ability to win the critical points in extended rallies and deuce situations ultimately made the difference.