POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's volleyball team (13-7, 3-1 NEVC) swept Carlow University (0-12) and SUNY Poly (17-11, 2-1) on Saturday afternoon. The Bears breezed by the Celtics 3-0 and rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the Wildcats 3-2 in a critical NEVC matchup.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (CARLOW)

• The Bears used an 11-3 run to defeat the Celtics 25-17 in set one.
• A 17-4 Potsdam start to set two gave the Bears 25-14 win and a 2-0 lead.
• Carlow scored three of the final four points in set three to stay alive with a 25-23 victory.
• After opening set four 15-4, the Bears held on to take the match with a 25-18 victory.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (CARLOW)

• Sophomore middle hitter Benson Jovel-Truong (Latham, N.Y./Shaker) led the Bears with a career-high eight kills to go with a match-best eight digs and two aces.
• Sophomore outside hitter Darius Dorsey-Rhule (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont) had six kills and a block.
• Sophomore outside hitter Dylan Murray (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) recorded five kills.
• Freshman setter Liam Yusko (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) had a personal best 22 assists along with seven digs.
• Freshman middle hitter Christopher Wong (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont) had a match-high five aces and freshman outside hitter Alexander Bholasing (Bayshore, N.Y./Bayshore) also had a career-high five digs.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED (SUNY POLY)

• The Wildcats started the contest on a 6-2 run, but Potsdam answered before SUNY Poly eked out the 31-29 marathon win. Junior outside hitter Duncan Tenhagen (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca West) had seven kills in the set.
• The Wildcats used a 6-1 run to take a 17-11 lead in set two and held off the Bears 25-21. Senior middle hitter Matt Kilinski (Greenfield Center, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) had four kills in the second.
• The Bears stayed just in front of SUNY Poly in set three and escaped with a 25-23 win. Kilinski added another six kills in the third.
• Potsdam slowly pulled away to take set four 25-18 and even the match at 2-2. Kilinski had three more kills in the fourth, while Tenhagen and freshman right side Charlie Cherchio (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) each chipped in two.
• The teams traded leads in the fifth set and were never separated by more than two points, but the Bears finally pulled out the 21-19 victory and claimed the match 3-2.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (SUNY POLY)

• Kilinski finished with a career-high 26 kills to go with six digs.
• Tenhagen was also outstanding with 21 kills and 22 digs.
• Cherchio also recorded a personal best with nine kills and four blocks.
• Wong added six kills, eight digs and four blocks.
• Sophomore setter Alex Lombardo (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) was outstanding with a career-high 61 assists to go with 12 digs.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Bears hit the road to wrap up conference play with two crucial contests next weekend. Potsdam faces Bard College on Friday at 5 p.m. and battles Russell Sage at noon on Saturday.