POTSDAM, N.Y.—Sixth year head coach Josh Stokes has his SUNY Potsdam volleyball team (13-17, 4-5 SUNYAC) playing its best heading into its first conference playoff appearance in five years. The Bears enter the postseason having won four of their last five matches, including consecutive SUNYAC contests with their backs against the wall. Tomorrow night, the team will travel to SUNY Fredonia to take on the Blue Devils (20-9, 6-3) in a quarterfinal matchup at 6 p.m.
 
Potsdam entered the 2018 campaign without four starters from the previous season, but despite youth and injuries, quickly gelled into a competitive squad. The Bears had the good fortune of strong leadership on an off the court. Senior setter Brianna Rodda (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) has continued to shine, claiming the program's assists record and compiling over 3,000 assists and 1,000 digs in her career. Rodda currently ranks second in the SUNYAC in assists with 896. Junior libero and transfer Natalie Magallon (Commerce, Calif./Bell Gardens) has taken charge of Potsdam's defense in her first season in the North Country. She leads the conference in digs (662) and digs-per-set (6.07) and as a result, the Bears have more digs as a team (1,817) than any other in the SUNYAC.
 
With Rodda feeding her teammates the ball, Potsdam has featured a balanced attack with four players, three sophomores and a freshman, recording better than 100 kills this fall. Sophomore outside hitter Nicole Hansen (Fulton, N.Y./G. Ray Bodley) leads the team and is fifth in the conference with 274 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Gabby Scott (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) is just behind her with 270, good for seventh in the SUNYAC. She has been strong on the defensive side of the ball as well, ranking ninth in the conference with 349 digs.  Sophomore middle hitter Monica Mack (Webster, N.Y./Webster Thomas) has come into her own with 234 kills, placing her 12th in the SUNYAC. Like Magallon, freshman middle hitter Emme Price (Glendale, Ariz./Deer Valley) has traveled across the country to make an impact for the Bears with 117 kills in her rookie season. Freshman setter Alyssa Rogers (Anchorage, Alaska/Grace Christian) also trekked across the continent and has filled in capably for Rodda when needed. Senior outside hitter Rachel Pridell (Lowville, N.Y./Lowville) and junior transfer Xanara Ruiz (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown) have also provided offense in critical spots, combining for 77 kills.
 
Senior defensive specialist Maddie Kaplan (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Peru) has battled through injuries to give Potsdam another weapon on defense, totaling a 160 digs.
 
Sophomore defensive specialists Alina Acevedo (Thornwood, N.Y./Westlake) and Raquel Escoto (Lake Peekskill, N.Y./Putnam Valley) and senior outside hitter and Cashlynn Jaggers (Massena, N.Y./Massena) have all come off the bench to give the Bears more depth and quality minutes.
 
In the Blue Devils, Potsdam will face a team that is second in the SUNYAC in kills (1,191), assists (1,123), blocks (181) and is first in service aces (336) and fifth in digs (1,699). Junior outside hitter SallyAnne Rudny (Jamestown, N.Y./Southwestern) leads the SUNYAC with 325 kills. She also has 312 digs, 52 aces and 22 blocks. Junior setter Amanda Mosack (Webster, N.Y./Webster Schroeder) tops the conference ranks with 1,039 assists as does senior opposite Kailey Falk (York, N.Y./Our Lady of Mercy) in aces with 70. Falk also has 313 digs. Kailey's sister and junior middle back Emma is second in the conference with 97 blocks.
 
The two teams last met on Oct. 6, with the Blue Devils capturing a 3-0 decision. Scott led the Bears with eight kills, while Magallon had 13 digs and Rodda provided 22 assists. Rudny registered a match-best 10 kills and five aces. Mosack had 32 assists and senior libero Rachel Aiello (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) finished with 14 digs.
 
For Bears fans making the trip or already in the area, tickets are $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 5-12 and free for SUNYAC students with college ID. The ticket window opens at 5 p.m. Video and live statistic links will be posted on potsdambears.com prior to the match.