Box Score
POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam volleyball team (2-3) fell to St. Lawrence University (3-3) and SUNYIT (1-3) on the first day of the Victory Promotions Invitational on Friday evening.
 
Against the Saints, the Bears fell in a tight 25-23 contest in set one and held off a late SLU charge for a reversed score in set two. The Saints jumped out to an 8-1 start in the third set and rolled to a 25-16 victory before edging Potsdam 25-21 in the decisive game. Junior Chelsea Sunday (Akwesasne, N.Y./Salmon River) led the Bears' offense with 15 kills, while senior Sharon Ofori (Bronx, N.Y./John F. Kennedy) and graduate student Annie Smith (Chateauguay, N.Y./Chateauguay) added five and four, respectively. Freshman setter Rachel Topf (Eagle River, Alaska/Chugiak) totaled 24 assists and seven digs. Senior libero Gabby Arana (Williston Park, N.Y./Herricks) contributed 12 digs and senior outside hitter Liza Fields (Duanesburg, N.Y./Duanesburg) had two aces and eight digs. Freshman outside hitter Kelsey Tompkins (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) added three kills and four aces.
 
The Bears got off to a better start against the Wildcats, taking the opening set 25-23. However, Potsdam got off to a slow start in the second match, beginning a three-match slide by scores of 25-14, 25-20 and 25-23. Fields had a team-high 11 kills and Smith finished with eight. Tompkins added to her day with seven kills and three blocks. Topf and Arana rounded out the leaders with 30 assists and 16 digs, respectively.
 
Potsdam will look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon when the Bears host Plattsburgh at 2 p.m. and Cégep André-Laurendeau at 4:30 p.m.