POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's volleyball team (1-1) defeated Wells College (0-2) 3-1 before falling to Hobart College (1-1) 3-0 as the Bears opened their 2024 campaign at home. Junior middle hitter Matt Kilinski (Greenfield Center, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) led Potsdam with 22 kills, seven blocks, seven digs and four aces in the two contests.  
 
Potsdam took the first two sets from Wells by 25-17 and 25-19 counts before the Express rallied to win the third set 25-23. The Bears shook off a large deficit in the fourth set to claim the 25-21 victory and the match. Kilinski posted a career-high 16 kills, six blocks and two aces. Sophomore outside hitter Duncan Tenhagen (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca West) recorded 13 kills and six digs. Freshman outside hitter Darius Dorsey-Rhule (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont Memorial) added six kills. Senior captain Michael Anderson (Lindenhurst, N.Y./Lindenhurst) had 23 assists and six digs. Senior opposite Sam Day (Phelps, N.Y./Midlakes) totaled 11 digs. Freshman setter Alex Lombardo (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) contributed two aces.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Harrison Keena (Burnt Hills, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa) led the Express with 12 kills and five digs. Senior outside hitter Connor Garvey (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) had six kills and a block. Sophomore setter Mason Moon (Rockport, Texas/Rockport-Fulton) recorded a match-high 24 assists along with 11 digs and six kills.
 
The Bears then squared off with the Statesmen in the program's first ever contest. However, Hobart was led by graduate student transfer and reigning AVCA Division III Player of the Year Andrew Kim (Rancho, Margarita, Calif./Mission Viejo). The Statesmen swept the contest by 25-17, 25-18 and 25-16 scores. Kilinski added another six kills, four digs, two aces and a block to his totals for the day. Senior middle hitter Sean Murray (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) had three kills and four blocks. Anderson had eight assists and Lombardo posted seven.
 
Kim scorched the Bears with 21 kills to go with four aces and five digs. Freshman outside hitter Daniel Sappia (Wellington, Fla./Cardinal Gibbons) added 12 kills and freshman outside hitter Anthony Zontoni (Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton Community) finished with six kills, six digs, two blocks and an ace. Freshman setter Zack Farren (Southbury, Conn./Pomperaug) had a match-best 34 assists and 10 digs.
 
The Bears are back in action tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. when they host Nichols College (2-0) in the first ever NEVC matchup.