NEWARK, N.J. – The Wilkes University men's volleyball team returned to action since spring break, falling to Rutgers-Newark in Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC) action 3-0 at The Golden Dome on Friday night.

The Colonels fall to 8-16 and 0-3 in CVC play. Rutgers-Newark improves to 15-7 overall and 2-1 against CVC competition.

Wilkes was defeated in straight sets 14-25, 16-25, 17-25. In the first set, the Colonels remained close throughout the beginning of the match, but a 6-0 run with the score tied at nine gave Rutgers a comfortable route to set victory.

Lucas Mages (Buffalo, NY/Iroquois Central) gave the Colonels an early lead in the second set 4-3 with a kill, but a 7-3 run swung momentum in favor of the hosts as they won the second set 16-25.
Rutgers-Newark took a 6-1 lead to start the third set, and didn't relinquish the lead despite two late 3-0 sparks from the Colonel offense.

Jackson Shafer (Milford, PA/Delaware Valley), Mages, and Jacob Ruiz (Long Pond, PA/Pocono Mtn West) shared the team lead in kills with four, while James Brust (Clarks Summit, PA/Abington Heights) and Joshua Conley (Chalfont, PA/Central Bucks South) each dished out eight assists. On defense, Alex Derk (Perkasie, PA/Pennridge) and Ryan McCorry (Tuckerton, NJ/Pinelands) each had four digs, while Jacob Mages (Buffalo, NY/Iroquois Central) had three blocks.

Massimo Roco led Rutgers-Newark with 11 kills, with Derek Au tallying 29 assists. Au and Fernando Paredes led the team defense with five digs each.

The Colonels return to action tomorrow, March 15^th, as they travel to face Kean University in CVC play at 7:00 p.m.