Hamburg, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly men's volleyball team posted a pair of straight-set victories on Saturday afternoon, earning 3–0 wins over Hilbert College and Houghton University in back-to-back matches.
GAME ONE: SUNY POLY VS HOUGHTON
SUNY Poly settled in quickly after an early exchange in the opening set, using balanced offense and strong play at the net to take control. After Houghton jumped out to a brief lead, the Wildcats responded behind efficient setting from Joshua Slater and a strong stretch from Quincy Stayton, who delivered multiple kills during a decisive run that flipped the momentum. SUNY Poly continued to pressure Houghton with aggressive serving and solid blocking, highlighted by contributions from Andrew Baaki and Jordan Prusky. The Wildcats steadily widened the gap late in the set, with Stayton and Baaki closing out the frame as SUNY Poly secured a convincing 25–15 win.
The second set saw SUNY Poly assert itself even earlier, opening with a dominant run fueled by Houghton attack errors and steady side-out play. Jacob Svara and Baaki provided consistent offense, while Kaiden Ranger and Aaron Hennessy chipped in timely kills to keep the Wildcats firmly in control. Late kills from Baaki and Svara, along with an ace, helped SUNY Poly pull away and capture the set 25–14 to take a commanding two-set advantage.
Houghton delivered its strongest push in the third set, trading points throughout a tightly contested frame. The teams exchanged leads multiple times, with extended rallies and strong net play on both sides. SUNY Poly leaned on contributions from Baaki, Aiden Passmore and Vincenzo Geloso to stay even as the score tightened late. With the set tied in the closing points, the Wildcats stayed composed, capitalizing on key errors and finishing strong behind a late kill from Passmore to seal a 25–23 victory. The win completed a straight-set sweep as SUNY Poly claimed the match 3–0.
GAME TWO: SUNY POLY VS HILBERT
SUNY Poly found its rhythm as the opening set developed, turning a tightly contested early stretch into a decisive advantage. After trading points through the first half of the frame, the Wildcats leaned on a balanced attack led by Peter Gottler and Andrew Baaki, with Joshua Slater distributing effectively. Hilbert briefly kept pace behind strong serving runs, but SUNY Poly responded with improved net play and pressure from the service line. Late kills from Gottler, paired with consecutive service aces from Aaron Hennessy, sparked a closing surge that allowed the Wildcats to pull away and take the first set, 25–19.
Momentum carried into the second set as SUNY Poly jumped out in front early behind an aggressive offensive push. Gottler continued to be a focal point at the net, while Baaki and Jordan Prusky added timely finishes to maintain separation. Hilbert made several pushes to narrow the gap, but the Wildcats' blocking and transition offense consistently halted any sustained run. Strong defense helped SUNY Poly protect its lead, and a late kill from Gottler sealed a 25–21 win to give the Wildcats a two-set edge.
The third set proved to be SUNY Poly's most complete performance, as the Wildcats quickly took control and never relinquished momentum. Baaki delivered a string of key kills to build an early cushion, while Prusky and Hennessy added offensive support as the lead continued to grow. SUNY Poly's blocking presence and serving pressure forced Hilbert into difficult situations throughout the frame. With contributions from multiple attackers and steady play down the stretch, the Wildcats closed out the set 25–16 to complete the straight-set victory and secure a 3–0 win.
