POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's volleyball team (10-11) held off scrappy Wells College (2-12) 3-1 in the Bears' home opener for its sixth straight victory. Senior outside hitter
Joe Zimmerman (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) had a game-high 19 kills and two aces. Sophomores
Jason Hendler (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) and
Tom Shemik (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) each posted career-bests with 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Hendler also had two blocks and Shemik added 13 digs. The contest was just the second home match in program history due to the pandemic.
Potsdam dispatched the Express 25-18 in set one. After a fast start by Wells in set two, Potsdam made a run, before falling 25-22. The Bears took care of business for a 25-22 set three win and rallied late to claim the match victory with a 25-23 set four win. Senior setter
Alec Roy (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) continued to pile up impressive numbers with 44 assists. Junior outside hitter
Zaire Rogers (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Cheektowaga) finished with six kills and a contest-best 17 digs. Senior libero
Keven Sanchez (Watertown, N.Y./Watertown) had 12 digs.
Freshman outside hitter Riley Mahoney (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) led the Express with 14 kills and three aces. Junior outside hitter Connor Garvey (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) posted nine kills and five assists. Freshman middle hitter Confidence Burrows (East Orange, N.J.) had eight kills, eight digs and three blocks. Senior setter Cooper Colasante (Central Square, N.Y./Paul V. Moore) registered 29 assists, two aces and nine digs. Junior right side Ryan Nugent (West Creek, N.J./Southern Regional) led Wells with 11 digs.
The Bears have a busy weekend. They host Russell Sage College in an NECC contest at 4 p.m. on Friday. That night they host D'Youville University in a nonconference contest at 6 p.m. On Saturday, they host Northern Vermont University-Johnson in another NECC match at noon before wrapping up the weekend with another nonleague match with Elmira College at 2:30 p.m.
