POTSDAM, N.Y—The SUNY Potsdam men's volleyball team (11-12, 2-0 NECC) defeated Russell Sage College (4-20, 0-4 NECC) 3-0 for its seventh straight win, before falling 3-0 to Division I D'Youville University (5-8) on Friday night in Maxcy Hall Field House. Elmira College (14-10) swept Sage 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-17) in the neutral site contest.
The Bears breezed past the Gators by 25-8, 25-14 and 25-13 scores in the opener. Sophomore middle
Jason Hendler (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) led the Bears with a career-high 14 kills to go with four blocks. Senior outside hitter
Joe Zimmerman (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) had 10 kills and a match-best 13 digs. Junior outside hitter
Zaire Rogers (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Cheektowaga) posted five kills two blocks and an ace. Senior setter
Alec Roy (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) chipped in 21 assists and five digs.
Senior opposite Deshawn Fleary (Newark, N.J./Immaculate Conception Montclair) and senior middle hitter Mikhail Hailu (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Schuylerville) each had three kills for Sage. Fleary also had four digs. Graduate student setter Ryan Jennings (North Brunswick, N.Y./North Brunswick Township) had eight assists.
Potsdam made the Saints earn their victories in the second match, but D'Youville fought the Bears off for 25-15, 25-21 and 25-22 set wins. Zimmerman added another 17 kills and six digs to his totals. Rogers had nine kills, two blocks and seven digs. Hendler posted five kills and sophomore middle
Sean Murray (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) added a match-high five blocks. Roy had another 28 assists and three digs.
Freshman outside hitter Jacob Malak (Wales, Wisc./Kettle Moraine) led D'Youville with 15 kills and an ace. Freshman middle back Tymek Brzoza (Tychy, Poland/NLO Jastrzebski Wegeil) had nine kills, two blocks and five digs. Freshman outside hitter Ian De Wilde (Lockport, N.Y./Starpoint) contributed eight kills and six digs. Freshman setter Randy Adorno Pagan (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Winter Park) had 34 assists.
Tomorrow is another busy day at Maxcy Hall. Potsdam will face NECC foe Northern Vermont University – Johnson at noon and nonconference opponent Elmira at 2:30 p.m. Elmira will square off with D'Youville at noon and then NVU-Johnson will battle D'Youville at 2:30 p.m.
