2/25/26
Top-ranked Springfield needed a dramatic comeback to dispatch No. 23 Rutgers-Newark, dropping the first two sets before winning three straight to take the match 3-2, closing it out 15-9 in a fifth set where Rutgers hit a catastrophic -.294.
The early going was nothing short of alarming for Springfield. The Pride hit just .146 in the first set and were sloppy on serve, committing the bulk of their 30 service errors in the opening sets while Rutgers rode the momentum to a two-set lead. Rutgers even held set point in the third, and at that moment a major upset over the nation’s top team looked very much alive.
But Springfield survived that pivotal third set and never looked back. Rutgers’ offense, which had functioned well enough through the first four sets, completely unraveled in the fifth. Aleks Kolodziej had been Rutgers’ most dangerous weapon all night, going for 14 kills on just 25 attempts with a .520 hitting percentage, but the collective attack broke down at the worst possible moment. Michael Suarez led all players with 15 kills but shouldered an enormous load with 48 attempts, finishing at .146, and inefficiency caught up with Rutgers when the match was on the line.
Springfield’s balance told the story on the other side. Sam Levinson and Nathan Goh each finished with 14 kills, while Carter Durivage was Springfield’s most efficient high-volume attacker, putting down 12 kills on 33 attempts. Setter Dylan Mulvaney was exceptional throughout, finishing with 44 assists and 8 digs, and Ricardo Ortiz anchored the back row with a match-high 17 digs.
The net was a significant advantage for Springfield, who held a 12-7 edge in total blocks. Brennan Cutter led all players with 3.5, and Levinson, Will Kirchhoff, and Goh each contributed 3.0. That presence became increasingly important in the final sets as Rutgers ran out of answers offensively, culminating in the fifth-set collapse that saw them go negative on hitting percentage.
For Rutgers, the loss stings given how close they came. They outplayed the top team in the country for two full sets and had a chance to steal a third. But Springfield’s depth, blocking advantage, and ability to tighten things up when it mattered most proved to be the difference in the end. The Scarlet Raiders were looking for the 1-2 punch after knocking out Stevens this weekend. Rutgers will certainy rise in rankings despite the loss, proving they can stick with anyone in the country.