2/3/2026
#12 NYU looked like a team intent on defending its place in the national conversation Tuesday night at the John A. Paulson Center… and for three sets, the Violets backed it up with authority.
NYU defeated Rutgers 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 41-43, 25-17) in front of 178 in Manhattan, improving to 5-1 while the Scarlet Raiders moved to 6-3. The match featured dominant stretches from NYU, plus a third-set marathon that turned into one of the more memorable early-season battles in Division III.
The Violet’s Strong Start… Two Sets with the Look of a Top-10 Team
The opening two frames were controlled, composed volleyball from the home side. NYU won set one 25-18 and set two 25-20, building a 2-0 lead behind efficient attacking and a block that consistently slowed Rutgers tempo.
For the night, NYU hit .328 as a team and totaled 18 block assists and 5 solo blocks, turning defense into points and keeping Rutgers from stringing long runs together.
Third Set Marathon… Rutgers’s Persistence Breaks Through
Rutgers could have packed it in down 0-2 on the road. Instead, the Scarlet Raiders went the other way… they turned the third set into an extended sideout war and outlasted NYU 43-41, taking the set despite NYU posting 23 kills in the frame.
Rutgers hit .415 in the set, by far their best stretch of the match, and showed real edge when the points started piling up. The box score notes 27 tie scores and 8 lead changes in the third alone… a chaotic, high-pressure environment where Rutgers refused to blink.
Reset Button… NYU Slams the Door in the Fourth
After the emotional swing of dropping a marathon set at home, NYU responded like a team with bigger goals. The Violets hit .448 in set four with 13 kills and zero errors, closing out the match 25-17 to prevent the night from turning into a five-set coin flip.
Match Leaders… NYU’s Core Carries the Load
NYU’s top-end production showed up in the numbers and in the timing.
Emerson Evans powered the offense with 20 kills and 23.0 points, adding 7 digs and 4 block assists.
Charlie Clifford was ruthlessly efficient, finishing with 17 kills on .469 hitting and 2 service aces.
Devyn Nguyen directed the attack with 45 assists and also contributed at the net with 1 solo block and 3 block assists.
At the middle, Cade Miller posted 6 kills while factoring into 6 total blocks (3 solo, 3 assists), a key part of NYU’s ability to steady the match after the third-set surge.
Rutgers Best… Big Swings, Big Volume, Big Fight
Rutgers persistence was driven by a balanced attack and a setter willing to keep feeding hot hands.
Harry Tayki led the Scarlet Raiders with 14 kills and 15.5 points, adding 7 digs and 3 block assists.
Aleks Kolodziej matched the production with 13 kills on .435 hitting, plus 10 digs and 2 aces.
Adrian Marke also finished with 13 kills and made his impact at the net with 4 block assists and a solo block.
And Duncan Sturt delivered a massive workload, recording 54 assists while adding 4 kills on .375 hitting.
What It Means… NYU Back on Track, Rutgers-Newark Takes a Statement Set
This match had two truths that can coexist.
NYU was the stronger team for three sets, and the Violets played like a group intent on reinforcing a top-10-level profile with efficiency, blocking, and a confident close in set four. 20260203070751-219174
Rutgers, meanwhile, showed that they are not a team that disappears on the road… not even down 0-2… not even in a third set that pushed into the 80s in total points. The Scarlet Raiders didn’t steal the match, but they absolutely earned that set.
And NYU… earned the response.
A Side Order of Stats
Final
NYU def. Rutgers 3-1
25-18, 25-20, 41-43, 25-17
Team Notes
- Location: John A. Paulson Center (New York, NY)
- Date: 2/3/2026
- Attendance: 178
- NYU hitting: .328
- Rutgers hitting: .241
- Third set: 27 tie scores, 8 lead changes
NYU Leaders
- Emerson Evans: 20 K, 7 DIG, 4 BA, 23.0 PTS
- Charlie Clifford: 17 K, .469, 2 SA, 20.0 PTS
- Devyn Nguyen: 45 A, 7 DIG, 1 BS, 3 BA
- Cade Miller: 6 K, 3 BS, 3 BA, 11.5 PTS
Rutgers-Newark Leaders
- Harry Tayki: 14 K, 7 DIG, 3 BA, 15.5 PTS
- Aleks Kolodziej: 13 K, .435, 10 DIG, 2 SA, 15.5 PTS
- Adrian Marke: 13 K, 4 BA, 1 DIG, 15.0 PTS
- Duncan Sturt: 54 A, 4 K, 5 DIG