Utica, N.Y. — The SUNY Poly men's volleyball team competed in a pair of home matches on Saturday night, falling to Lasell University 3-1 before losing in straight sets to Juniata College. The Wildcats will look to regroup quickly ahead of day two of their opening weekend tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
GAME ONE: SUNY Poly vs Lasell
SUNY Poly set the tone early in the opening frame, trading points with Lasell through the first half of the set. Kills from Peter Gottler, Quincy Stayton, and Jordan Prusky helped the Wildcats stay within striking distance. Midway through the set, SUNY Poly used a strong run fueled by efficient side-out play and disciplined defense to grab a late lead. Despite a push from Lasell down the stretch, the Wildcats closed the set with key points from Stayton and Prusky to secure a 25–22 win.
Lasell responded in the second set with increased offensive pressure and aggressive serving. SUNY Poly stayed competitive early behind contributions from Aaron Hennessy and Stayton, but Lasell began to build separation midway through the frame. A series of kills from the hosts and a late run allowed Lasell to pull away and take the set 25–19, evening the match at one set apiece.
The third set featured extended rallies and momentum shifts on both sides. SUNY Poly fought back from an early deficit with timely kills from Stayton and Gottler, along with steady setting from Joshua Slater. The Wildcats narrowed the gap late and threatened to force extra points, but Lasell capitalized on key moments at the service line and closed the set with back-to-back points to edge SUNY Poly 25–23.
Looking to extend the match, SUNY Poly came out strong in the fourth set, trading points through the opening stages. Vincenzo Geloso, Corey Hollingsworth, and Baaki each contributed offensively as the Wildcats continued to apply pressure. However, Lasell again found success from the service line late in the set, stringing together a decisive run that created separation. Despite SUNY Poly's continued effort and late points, Lasell closed the match with a 25–21 victory.
GAME TWO: SUNY Poly vs Juniata
The opening set featured competitive play early, with SUNY Poly trading points with Juniata. The Wildcats found success at the net, as Andrew Baaki and Peter Gottler teamed up for multiple blocks to slow the Juniata attack. Juniata began to build separation midway through the set with a steady offensive rhythm and strong service pressure, then closed the frame on a late run to take the set 25–21.
Set two was tightly contested from start to finish, with neither team able to gain a significant advantage. SUNY Poly relied on contributions from Baaki and Aaron Hennessy to stay within striking distance, while Jordan Prusky and Joshua Slater helped stabilize the offense. Juniata answered consistently in transition and made the most of late opportunities, edging the Wildcats 25–23 to take a two-set lead.
Juniata carried its momentum into the third set, opening with an early run that put SUNY Poly on its heels. The Wildcats continued to compete, receiving offensive contributions from Corey Hollingsworth and Quincy Stayton, but Juniata remained efficient and composed down the stretch. A late surge by the hosts widened the gap, allowing Juniata to close out the match with a 25–18 third set.
