UTICA, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's volleyball team (1-1) opened its 2023 campaign with a split on Day 1 of the Wildcat Men's Volleyball Invitational at SUNY Poly. The Bears swept Misericordia University (2-2) 3-0, before falling by the same score to No. 9 St. John Fisher University (5-1).

In the opener against Misericordia University (2-2), Potsdam took the match in straight sets by 26-24, 25-16 and 25-23 scores. Graduate student outside hitter Joe Zimmerman (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) led the Bears with 17 kills. Senior outside hitter Zaire Rogers (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Cheektowaga) registered nine kills, eight digs and a block. Sophomore middle hitter Matt Kilinski (Greenfield Center, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) had a match-high four blocks in his collegiate debut. Graduate student Cooper Colesante (Central Square, N.Y./Paul V. Moore) posted 26 assists, seven digs and two blocks. Freshman outside hitter Duncan Tenhagen (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca West) added six digs and an ace in his debut.

Junior pin hitter Anthony DePalma (Wayne, N.J./Wayne Valley) led the Cougars with a team-high of 17 kills, one block and three digs. Sophomore Setter Kyle Ganoe (Chambersburg, Pa./Chambersburg) had 22 assists while first year pin hitter Jackson Fehnel (Bath, Pa./Northampton) had 10 digs.

Potsdam fell to the Cardinals in the night cap by 22-25, 19-25, 24-26 counts. Rogers and Zimmerman both had eight kills. Colesante had 27 assists, while Tenhagen had seven digs.

Fisher's outside hitters Josh Bigford (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North) and Casey Jackson (Spencerport, N.Y./Spencerport) each had a match-high of 13 kills. Setter Gavin Newman (Commack, N.Y./Commack) contributed 30 assists and libero Trace LaRobardiere (North Syracuse, N.Y./Cicero-North) had nine digs.

The Bears are back in action tomorrow as they take on #8 Juniata College at 3 p.m. and Nazareth College at 5 p.m.