Utica, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly women's volleyball team split a pair of matches on Saturday, falling 3–1 to SUNY Canton in the opener before bouncing back with a 3–1 victory over Hilbert College. The Wildcats are now 6-7 on the season.
GAME ONE: SUNY Poly vs SUNY Canton
The opening set started evenly, with Abby Newell putting Poly on the board early with a kill off Grace Southwick's set. Canton quickly surged ahead behind the serving of Daycee Bane, who delivered multiple aces while Emerson Coulter and Isabella Cruz added kills to stretch the lead. The Wildcats clawed back into the frame thanks to a pair of kills from Daniella Aluisio and steady contributions from Kassity Cruz and Erica Mumbulo at the net, but a late serving run by Canton's Abby Raven sealed a 25–17 decision for the visitors.
Poly answered in set two, racing out to an early lead on an ace from Aluisio and quick kills from Cruz and Newell. Southwick directed the offense well, finding Aluisio and Cruz for points while Samantha Dee chipped in an ace to extend the margin.Canton rallied midway behind Coulter and Lauren Norman, but the Wildcats' balance proved too much down the stretch. Cruz capped a strong frame with multiple late kills, and Southwick closed the door with an ace to finish a 25–23 win and level the match at 1–1.
The third belonged to the Kangaroos, who opened with a flurry of offense behind Bane, Brooke Hite, and Coulter. Despite defensive stops and a kill from Aluisio to keep Poly close early, Canton's attack found its rhythm and pulled away. The Wildcats saw sparks from Kylee DeCarr and Cruz midway through the set, but a strong serving stretch from Nadia Frigon pushed Canton over the top in a 25–13 decision.
In the fourth, the Wildcats tried to extend the match, with Cruz and Aluisio combining for kills and Southwick delivering another assist-heavy frame. Newell added a key kill late, and DeCarr kept the score close with points at the net. Canton, however, countered with timely kills from Hite, Cruz, and Coulter, using a late push to secure the set 25–16 and close out the match 3–1.
GAME TWO: SUNY Poly vs Hilbert College
The Wildcats opened the match strong, with Grace Southwick delivering an early ace and setting up Daniella Aluisio and Abby Newell for quick kills to build momentum. Kassity Cruz and Erica Mumbulo added points at the net, while Kylee DeCarr and Southwick chipped in with service aces to push the lead. Hilbert rallied late with kills from Lindsay Madigan and Jenna Revak, using a serving run to overtake Poly and close the first set 25–22.
SUNY Poly answered back in set two, storming out to a 4–0 lead behind a pair of Southwick service aces and a kill from Aluisio. Cruz and Mumbulo kept the offense rolling, and DeCarr sparked a surge with back-to-back aces that extended the margin. Hilbert hung tough with kills from Madigan and McKenna Rice, but Poly closed the door late as Cruz capped the frame with a kill off a Southwick assist to even the match 1–1 with a 25–21 win.
Set three swung back and forth, with Southwick, Aluisio, and Newell combining for key points early before Hilbert responded with a run fueled by Madigan and Rice. Cruz steadied the Wildcats with multiple aces and kills in the middle of the frame, and Aluisio added a late strike to edge Poly ahead. With the set tied at 24–24, Southwick came up clutch with an ace and Cruz finished it off with a kill to lift Poly to a 27–25 victory and a 2–1 match lead.
In the fourth, the Wildcats carried their momentum, as Aluisio and Cruz delivered early kills to get SUNY Poly going. Southwick's steady setting kept the offense clicking, feeding Cruz and Newell for points while DeCarr and Aluisio chipped in at the net. Hilbert tried to rally behind Revak and Rice, but Poly's attack proved too balanced. Cruz and Newell powered late kills, and Mumbulo sealed the match with a point off a Southwick set for the 25–18 win.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats enter conference play with a showdown with cross town rival Utica University on October 1st at 7:00 P.M.
