HILLBURN, N.Y. — The LIU men's volleyball team took a quick ride upstate Thursday afternoon when it took on new Division I program St. Thomas Aquinas.
 
The Sharks had to fight early in the first set but would pull away thanks to kills by Kale Spencer, Kasey Clouet and Livan Moreno. LIU would win the set 25-18 and did not look back from there. It dominated the second set 25-11 and while STAC was very pesky in the third, the Sharks tightened up and would sweep the match 3-0.
 
Clouet and Moreno would share the team-high in kills with six. Each added a service ace as well while Moreno recorded three digs.
 
Chase Celichowski had a team-high seven digs and tallied three kills.
 
Jack Sarnowski and Luca Holanda both led the Sharks with nine assists. NEC Rookie of the Week Roei Horovitz was right behind them with eight.
 
Seamus Flynn was the team leader in total blocks with four.
 
Max Cherin made his collegiate debut in the match, recording three kills and a solo block.
 
The Sharks return to the court Saturday night at 7 p.m. when they welcome Lindenwood to the Steinberg Wellness Center for the season's home opener.