POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's volleyball team (16-14, 5-3 NECC) has reached the postseason for the second year in a row and just its third season in existence. A victory over SUNY Poly on Saturday earned the Bears their first home playoff game. Fourth-seeded Potsdam will now host fifth-seeded SUNY Poly (9-14, 4-4) tomorrow night at 7 p.m. in Maxcy Field House.
 
After a 1-6 start to the season, which includes losses to three ranked opponents, the Bears finished the regular season on a 15-8 tear. As it did last year, the team ranks at the top or near the top of the NECC in several major categories. The Bears lead the conference in digs (1,053) and blocks (170) and are seconds in kills (1,063) and assists (980)
 
Graduate student Joe Zimmerman (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport), a 2022 first team All-NECC selection, has continued to dominate this season. The outside hitter leads the league in kills (309) and kills-per-set (3.47). He is also third on the team in service aces (33) and digs (179) and has recorded 20 blocks. Zimmerman's play has earned him two NECC Player of the Week honors. Freshman Duncan Tenhagen (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca West) has been impressive from the outset. He's recorded 158 kills, 44 service aces, 202 digs and 15 blocks. Tenhagen leads the Bears in aces and ranks third in the NECC in digs and second on the team. He's a two-time NECC Rookie of the Week recipient. Senior outside hitter Zaire Rogers (Cheektowaga, N.Y./Cheektowaga) continues to be another critical weapon for Potsdam. He's totaled 153 kills, 160 digs, 42 assists, 12 aces and 25 blocks. He's one of just two original Bears left on the roster. Sophomore Matt Kilinski (Greenfield Center, N.Y./Saratoga, N.Y.) is another first year player that has made an immediate impact. The 6-7 middle hitter leads the Bears and ranks second in the conference in blocks this season with 67. He has compiled 145 kills, 15 aces and 22 blocks.
 
Junior middle hitter Jason Hendler (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) has contributed 135 kills, 18 aces, 31 digs and ranks just behind Kilinski in bocks with 57. Another key addition for Potsdam this season has been graduate student Cooper Colesante (Central Square, N.Y./Paul V. Moore). The transfer setter leads the Bears and ranks third in the NECC in assists with 651. Colesante has also provided 57 kills, 36 aces, 136 digs and 46 blocks. He was the conference's player of the week on February 13. Junior Tom Shemik (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) has transitioned into the role of libero this season with great success. He leads the Bears and is second in the conference with 209 digs.
 
Junior middle hitter Sean Murray (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) has continued to provide solid offense and defense off the bench this season. He has registered 46 kills along with 31 blocks and 12 digs. Graduate student setter Alec Roy (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda), the other original Bear, has 144 assists, 16 kills, seven aces, 39 digs and six blocks this season. Junior setter Michael Anderson (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) has given Potsdam tremendous depth behind Colesante and Roy. He has 70 assists, four aces and 17 digs. Junior outside hitter Sam Day (Phelps, N.Y./Midlakes) has shown flashes in his first season in the North Country. Day has 30 kills, nine aces, 23 digs and seven blocks. Senior libero Fernando Perez (Azusa, N.Y./Azusa) continues to step into the Potsdam serving rotation at key moments. Junior Cam McGarry (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) has battled injury this year, but gives the Bears more size in the middle when on the court.
 
SUNY Poly enters the postseason second in the NECC in blocks (152), fourth in kills (894) and fifth in assists (837). Sophomore outside hitter Jason Aubrey leads the Wildcats with 240 kills. He also has 104 digs and 28 blocks. Junior middle blocker James Mion is right behind Kilinski, ranking third in the NECC in blocks with 64. Mion has also totaled 135 kills, 40 digs and 28 aces. Senior setter Nathan Farnham is second in the conference with 666 assists to go along with 66 kills, 25 aces and 49 blocks. Senior outside Kohei Clark has provided SUNY Poly with 182 kills, 137 aces 111 digs and 17 blocks.
 
The teams have already met twice this season, with the Bears taking both contests. Potsdam won a five-set grudge match (22-25, 26-24, 16-25, 25-23, 15-10) on February 10, at Nazareth. Zimmerman had 14 kills, Hendler had 13 and Colesante recorded 27 assists. Aubrey led SUNY Poly with 17 kills, while Clark had 13 and Farnham posted 52 assists and 13 digs. On Saturday, the Bears swept the Wildcats (25-22, 26-24, 25-19) in a contest that was much closer than the final score. Zimmerman posted 15 kills and Colesante chipped in 23 assists. Clark had 12 kills and Farnham finished with 32 assists and 17 digs.
 
Tomorrow night's contest is a rematch of last season's quarterfinal meeting, which the Wildcats won 3-2 (23-25, 25-17, 20-25, 25-23, 15-13) in Utica.
 
Admission is free for all fans.
 
Fans not attending can watch all the action HERE and follow the live stats HERE.