TROY, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's volleyball team (16-7, 5-1 NEVC) held off Russell Sage College (9-21, 1-5) 3-2 in another crucial NEVC match before downing Curry College (5-16) 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in a tri-match at Sage.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (SAGE)

• Nothing came easy in the opener with Potsdam taking set one 31-29. Junior middle hitter Mike Kilinski (Greenfield Center, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) had four kills.
• The Gators answered with a 29-27 win in set two. Senior middle hitter Matt Kilinski (Greenfield Center, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) had eight kills in the set.
• The Bears outlasted Sage 28-26 in set three. Matt Kilinski added another nine kills.
• The Gators evened the match a final time with a 25-17 win in set four. The set featured another four kills from Matt Kilinski.
• Potsdam never trailed in the fifth set and closed out the match with a 15-10 win.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (SAGE)

• Matt Kilinski finished with 24 kills, six digs and an ace.
• Mike Kilinski totaled seven kills and four blocks.
• Freshman right side Charlie Cherchio (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) recorded six kills and four blocks.
• Junior outside hitter Duncan Tenhagen (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca West) chipped in five kills, nine digs and two aces.
• Sophomore setter Alex Lombardo (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) had 38 assists and six digs.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED (CURRY)

• The Bears used a 5-0 run late in the first set to defeat Curry 25-18. Sophomore outside hitter Darius Dorsey-Rhule (Elmont, N.Y./Elmont) had three kills and Mike Kilinski had two.
• Curry had a 9-4 run to break a 16-16 tie in set two for a 25-20 win. Dorsey-Rhule had another three kills as did sophomore middle hitter Benson Jovel-Truong (Latham, N.Y./Shaker).
• The Bears erased a 20-16 deficit with a 7-0 run in the third set and held on for a 30-28 win. Tenhagen and Mike Kilinski each posted four kills.
• Potsdam then steamrolled the Colonels 25-11 in the fourth set to close out the victory. Mike Kilinski had four kills and Dorsey-Rhule contributed another three in the final set.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (CURRY)

• Dorsey-Rhule led the Bears with a career-high seven kills and nine digs.
• Mike Kilinski finished with 10 kills and three blocks.
• Jovel-Truong also had a personal best nine kills along with two aces and four blocks.
• Lombardo had another 24 assists and freshman setter Liam Yusko (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) totaled a career-high 22.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Bears wrap up the regular season with a doubleheader against Fisher College (Mass.) at home next Saturday at noon.