Utica, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly women's volleyball team is now 3-3 on the season, following a loss to the SUNY Potsdam Bears in five sets and a four set victory over the SUNY Purchase Panthers. The Wildcats now prepare for a mid-week battle against the SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers on September 9th. 

GAME ONE: SUNY Poly vs SUNY Potsdam 

Avery Droszd provided an early spark in the first set with a service ace, while Erica Mumbulo and Kassity Cruz chipped in timely kills to keep the Wildcats even with the Bears. SUNY Poly strung together a four-point surge midway through the set, capped by an attack error that pushed them ahead 19–16. Potsdam rallied back behind the strong hitting to knot things at 20, but the Wildcats responded when Daniella Aluisio converted late kills and SUNY Poly closed on a 4-0 run, giving the Wildcats a 26-24 set victory. 

The second set saw SUNY Poly seize momentum early and never let go. Cruz, Mumbulo, and Abby Newell each delivered kills in a balanced offensive stretch, while setter Grace Southwick orchestrated the attack and added a service ace of her own. A dominant serving run in the middle of the set, highlighted by consecutive aces from Southwick, created separation and gave Poly a commanding 14–7 lead. Newell and Aluisio closed the door late, and SUNY Poly secured a 25–14 victory to take a 2–0 lead in the match.

Facing a sweep, Potsdam came alive in the third set. Despite a strong start that featured early kills from Aluisio and Cruz, the Bears capitalized on Wildcat miscues to pull ahead. SUNY Poly battled to stay close with late kills from Newell and Aluisio, but Potsdam finished on a 5–1 run to claim the set 25–16.

The fourth set followed a similar pattern, with Potsdam riding the energy from their third-set win. The Bears jumped ahead early behind Emily Prest and Hagerman, and SUNY Poly struggled to find offensive rhythm. Droszd broke up the run with a kill, and Catherine McCourt added defensive energy, but Potsdam's balanced attack proved too much. The Bears closed the frame on a 10–3 stretch, finishing with a 25–11 win to force a decisive fifth set.

With the match on the line, the final set turned into a tense battle. Cruz and Aluisio connected early to give the Wildcats momentum, while Southwick found Jade Taylor for a kill to keep things level at 9–9. However, Potsdam responded with a late push sparked by strong serving from Sophia Layer. The Bears capitalized on a pair of Poly errors and delivered the final blow to win the set by a score of 15-11 and the match by a score of 3-2.

GAME TWO: SUNY Poly vs SUNY Purchase 

The Wildcats opened the match with authority in the first set, racing out to an early lead thanks to a service ace from Daniella Aluisio and quick kills from Abby Newell and Lilly Hargarther. SUNY Poly's momentum continued behind strong serving runs from Cali Ratliff and Teagan Hopkins, each forcing Purchase into errors and giving the Wildcats room to separate. Erica Mumbulo and Aluisio added kills to keep the offense balanced, while Newell anchored the block with timely stops. Purchase made a late push with a string of points from Claudia Moses and Marcella Pena, but SUNY Poly closed the door on a 25-18 set victory. 

The second set proved to be much tighter, with both teams trading points in the opening stretch. Avery Droszd and Mumbulo combined for a pair of kills to keep Poly steady, while Newell and Aluisio continued to find holes in the Purchase defense. Jade Taylor sparked a mid-set surge with a service ace and back-to-back kills that shifted momentum in the Wildcats' favor. Purchase responded with strong play at the net from Sadie Weiss, forcing SUNY Poly to battle from behind. With the score tied at 23, the Wildcats leaned on Aluisio, who delivered a kill to cap a 25–23 win and push Poly ahead two sets to none.

Purchase refused to go quietly, responding with a strong third set. The Panthers found rhythm early with Weiss at the service line, building a quick lead while Maya Brown and Pena powered the attack. SUNY Poly fought to stay within striking distance as Hopkins connected with Taylor and Aluisio for kills, but errors mounted as the set wore on. Despite late points from Droszd and Aluisio, Purchase's balanced attack throughout the set proved too much, and the Panthers secured a 25–18 win to extend the match.

The Wildcats quickly regrouped in the fourth, determined to finish strong. Kassity Cruz opened the frame with a dominant serving run, tallying aces and setting up kills for Aluisio and Droszd. SUNY Poly built momentum with solid defensive play from Hargarther and Mumbulo at the net, while setter Grace Southwick spread the offense to keep Purchase on its heels. Aluisio took over down the stretch, recording several decisive kills to silence the Panthers' rally attempts. A final attack error by Purchase closed the set, and the Wildcats clinched the match with a 25–17 win. 

UP NEXT: The Wildcats will be back on home court on September 9th to face off with the SUNY Cobleskill Fighting Tigers at 7:00 P.M.