OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The Stevenson men's volleyball team recording a .390 hitting percentage, its second highest of the season, en route to a 25-18, 25-23, 25-9 Continental Volleyball Conference victory over Rutgers-Newark Saturday afternoon at Owings Mills Gymnasium.

The Mustangs (11-6, 2-1 CVC) have won three consecutive straight set matches and have five total on the year. The team also improves to 6-0 at home this season and has won 19 straight home matches dating back to the 2015 season.

After seven ties to open the set, the hosts won four straight points to open an 11-7 lead behind three consecutive errors on the Scarlet Raiders (). The Mustangs would lead by as many at seven at 17-10, but Rutgers-Newark got as close at four late in the set.

Stevenson recorded four of the last five points to close the opening set. The sophomore duo of Jason Gardner and Landon Shorts combined for 11 of the team's 16 kills in the first set as the Mustangs recorded a .419 hitting percentage.

The Scarlet Raiders won the opening point of the second set, but Stevenson answered with seven of the next nine points en route to a 13-4 run. After trailing 10-18, Rutgers-Newark responded with six straight points on four errors by the Mustangs to get back within two.

After the visitors rallied to tie the set at 21-21, the Mustangs took a two set lead after winning four of the final six points behind three kills by Shorts. Shorts finished with eight kills in the set. Both teams hit .407 in the set after combining for just 13 digs.

Rutgers-Newark again won the opening point to start the third set on a service error, but the hosts responded with five consecutive points to force a Scarlet Raiders timeout. The visitors had no answer for the hot hitting Mustangs held Rutgers-Newark to just nine points in the set.

Shorts finished with 16 kills for his 10th match with at least 10 kills while Gardner recorded his seventh double digit kill performance with 11. Senior Kyle Johnson recorded 36 assists while classmate Nate Ellis finished with three total blocks.

Corey Piper led the Scarlet Raiders with 14 kills.

Stevenson returns to action on Wednesday, February 22 when the Mustangs travel to 11th-ranked Marymount (Va.) for a Continental Volleyball Conference contest beginning at 7:00 p.m.