POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam men's volleyball team (1-1) defeated Regis College (4-2) 3-1 and fell to No. 16 Buffalo State (6-0) 3-1 in a Saturday tri-match at Jerry Welsh Gymnasium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (REGIS)

• The Pride opened up a 15-11 lead in set one. The Bears rallied to tie the match at 20-20 before Regis closed out the 25-21 win. Graduate student middle hitter Matt Kilinski (Greenfield Center, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) picked up where he left off, recording seven kills.
• The Bears rebounded in set two, winning 25-19. Matt Kilinski added another six kills. Freshman right side Brayden Kilinski (Greenfield Center, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) contributed three kills.
• Potsdam downed Regis by the same 25-19 count to go up 2-1 after three sets. An 11-5 finish broke a 14-14 tie and clinched the win. Matt Kilinski recorded five more kills and junior middle hitter Jack Orrange (Noth Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) had three.
• The Bears rolled past Regis in set four, 25-16, to clinch the match victory. Matt Kilinski finished as strong as he started with another seven kills. Brayden Kilinski and senior outside hitter Duncan Tenhagen (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca West) each had two kills.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (REGIS)

• Matt Kilinski just missed a career-high with 24 kills to go with 10 digs and two blocks.
• Brayden Kilinski had a strong start to his Bears career with nine kills and two aces.
• Tenhagen contributed six kills, two aces and two digs and senior middle hitter Mike Kilinski (Greenfield Center, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) had a match-best five blocks.
• Junior setter Alex Lombardo (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) had a strong performance with 38 assists and seven digs.
• Freshman libero Rowan Root (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) chipped in seven digs.
• Regis junior outside hitter Brandon Valdes (Miami, Fla./Monsignor Edward Pace) led the Pride with 12 kills, six digs and an ace.

 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (BUFFALO STATE)

• The Bears started quickly in set one, opening up a 6-1 lead. The Bengals rallied for a 19-18 edge before Potsdam closed out the 25-22 win with a 6-3 run. Matt Kilinski had six kills and Tenhagen added four.
• The teams were never separated by more than two points in set two, until the Bengals finished off their own 25-22 win. Matt Kilinski recorded four kills, while Mike Kilinski and Tenhagen had two each.
• It was more of the same tight play in set three with Buffalo State edging the Bears 25-22 again. Tenhagen led the way with seven kills. Matt Kilinski had five kills and Mike Kilinski four more.
• Set four was also tight. Back-to-back kills from Mike and Matt Kilinski got Potsdam within 23-22, but the Bengals held on for the 25-23 win to claim the match. Tenhagen and Matt Kilinski had another big set with six kills each.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS (BUFFALO STATE)

• Matt Kilinski finished with a match-high 21 kills to go with seven digs.
• Tenhagen had 19 kills, 11 digs and two aces.
• Mike Kilinski contributed nine kills and a block.
• Lombardo topped his previous match with 41 assists.
• Root recorded 17 digs and five assists and freshman setter Shane Goldberg (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna) had nine assists.
• Sophomore outside hitter Brady Bowman (Orchard Park, N.Y./Orchard Park) paced the Bengals with 14 kills.
• Buffalo State also won its match with Regis, downing the Pride 3-1.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Bears host Bard College on Saturday, February 7 at noon to open NEVC play.