Dudley, M.A. - The SUNY Poly men's volleyball season has concluded, following an intense battle against the Nichols College Bison in the second round of the NEVC playoffs. Multiple Wildcats played key roles, including Peter Gottler, Joshua Slater and Andrew Baaki. The Wildcats end their season with a final record of 18-14.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

Set 1 – Nichols 25, SUNY Poly 20

Nichols opened the match with poise, never trailing in the first set, but the Wildcats made them earn every point. The Wildcats battled through early errors and stayed within striking distance thanks to the offensive efforts of Peter Gottler, Adam Brawn and Andrew Baaki. SUNY Poly applied pressure late, pulling within one point at 19–18, thanks to a kill from Joshua Slater. However, Nichols responded with a pair of service aces from Jack Normandin to regain control and ultimately take the set.

Set 2 – Nichols 25, SUNY Poly 18

The second set showcased SUNY Poly's resilience. After falling behind early, the Wildcats rallied to even the score at 12–12, sparked by key serves from Forest Chaput and strong kills from Peter Gottler. Their blocking at the net briefly disrupted Nichols' rhythm, matching the Bisons point for point. However, the Bison regrouped behind setter Evan Sachs, who continued to distribute the ball effectively, and clutch kills from multiple players helped Nichols regain momentum and pull away late.

Set 3 – Nichols 25, SUNY Poly 22

The final set was the most intense of the match, with the Wildcats fighting to extend their season. Adam Brawn's back-to-back service aces tied the score at 17, and the Wildcats showed grit as multiple players executed crucial kills down the stretch. SUNY Poly's front line, led by Gottler and Baaki, made things difficult for Nichols down the stretch, but the Bison responded with timely plays, fending off the Wildcats' final push to close out the match 25–22.