IMMACULATA, Pa. - The Immaculata University men's volleyball team graced the floor of Alumnae Hall for the first time in the program's history Tuesday night to usher in a new era in Immaculata Athletics. The match also served as the Macs' first in Continental Volleyball Conferece (CVC) play, as the hosts fell in straight sets to Rutgers-Newark.

Freshman Garrett Pepper led the Macs on the floor all night in the effort, recording team-highs in kills (5), blocks (2) and digs (5), but Immaculata was unable to keep pace with the Scarlet Raptors after surrendering an early first-set lead.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Mighty Macs jumped out to an early lead in the opening set Tuesday night, taking the first three points of the match which included a Pepper kill and a Matthew Lynn service ace. Lynn provided his team-leading second ace of the night just six points later to extend the IU lead to two at 6-4 in the early stages of the set.
-Rutgers-Newark responded right back with a 9-0 run to take a 13-6 lead and kept the Macs behind them the rest of the way to pick up a 25-16 first set victory.
-IU was unable to get in a rhythm on the floor in the second set, allowing the Scarlet Raptors to jump out to a 15-3 advantage. Rutgers would go on to take the middle set by a final tally of 25-5.
-Immaculata took advantage of a few offensive miscues by the Scarlet Raptors in the third set to get within two in the early stages, but an 8-0 Rutgers run pitted the Macs in a hole that they were ultimately unable to climb out of, dropping the set, 25-11, and the match, 3-0.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
-Kills: Pepper 5, Wiltbank
-Aces: Lynn 2
-Blocks: Pepper 2
-Assists: Ramos 3, Masino 2, Geller
-Digs: Pepper 5, Geller 4, Masino 2

UP NEXT
Immaculata (0-4) continues its three-game homestand Friday night against Southern Virginia. The CVC matchup is scheduled for 6 p.m.