POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's volleyball team (16-14, 5-3 NECC) took care of business on Saturday afternoon, defeating SUNY Poly (9-14, 4-4 NECC) 3-0 to clinch fourth place in the New England Collegiate Conference and a home playoff game for the first time in program history. Graduate student outside hitter
Joe Zimmerman (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) was solid as ever, registering 15 kills and nine digs to lead the Bears.
The first set was back-and-forth for its entirety until Potsdam closed out the 25-22 win. The Bears raced out to a big lead in the second set only to have the Wildcats storm back before falling 26-24. The hosts then closed out the win with a steady 25-19 victory. Sophomore middle hitter
Matt Kilinski (Greenfield, Center, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) had six kills to go with a match-high five blocks. Graduate student setter
Cooper Colesante (Central Square, N.Y./Paul V. Moore) contributed 23 assists, four blocks and an ace. Junior libero
Tom Shemik (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) had 15 digs and freshman outside hitter
Duncan Tenhagen (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca West) added seven.
Senior outside hitter Kohei Clark (West Hempstead, N.Y./West Hempstead) paced the Wildcats with 12 kills and eight digs. Sophomore outside hitter Jason Aubrey (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) had seven kills and a block. Freshman outside hitter Peter Gottler (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) posted six kills and an assist. Senior setter Nathan Farnham (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) had a match-best 32 assists and 17 digs.
Prior to the contests, the Bears honored Zimmerman and senior libero
Fernando Perez (Azusa, Calif./Azusa) for their careers on Senior Day.
The fourth-seeded Bears will host fifth-seeded SUNY Poly at 7 p.m. on Tuesday night in the NECC Quarterfinals.
