Utica, N.Y. – The SUNY Poly men's volleyball team split a nonconference doubleheader, earning a straight-set victory over Carlow before falling in four sets to Penn State Behrend. With the split the Wildcats are now 4-6 on the season.
GAME ONE: SUNY POLY VS. CARLOW
SUNY Poly opened the day with a strong performance, defeating Carlow in straight sets, 25–21, 25–13, 25–19, behind balanced offense and steady play at the net.
Set One
SUNY Poly set the tone early in the opening frame, taking advantage of Carlow attack errors and strong blocking to jump out to an early lead. The Wildcats built momentum through kills from Derek Gottler and Dylan Wharton, while Joe Rehbit orchestrated the offense to keep Carlow off balance. Carlow attempted to respond with timely kills from Gavin McLain and Jaden Michalski, but SUNY Poly maintained control behind consistent side-out play. Late in the set, service pressure from Ranger Kaiden and a key ace from Gottler helped extend the lead, allowing the Wildcats to close out the set 25–21.
Set Two
The second set saw SUNY Poly find an even stronger rhythm. Gottler delivered multiple kills and a service ace early, helping the Wildcats establish separation. Contributions from Connor McDarby and Jacob Svara added to the offensive balance, while SUNY Poly's blocking limited Carlow's ability to string together points. As the set progressed, the Wildcats continued to capitalize on Carlow miscues and controlled the pace through effective ball distribution. Forest Chaput provided a spark late, finishing the set with consecutive kills as SUNY Poly pulled away for a decisive 25–13 win.
Set Three
Carlow attempted to gain momentum in the third set, briefly keeping pace in the early points, but SUNY Poly responded with a steady run fueled by strong net play and defensive pressure. Service aces from Aiden Passmore and Kaiden Ranger helped widen the gap, while Wharton and McDarby delivered timely kills to maintain control. Carlow made a late push behind McLain, but SUNY Poly remained composed and closed out the match with a final kill to secure the sweep, 25–19.
GAME TWO: SUNY POLY VS. PENN STATE BEHREND
SUNY Poly battled through four competitive sets against Penn State Behrend but ultimately fell, 3–1, in the second match of the day.
Set One
The opening set featured a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading points early. SUNY Poly stayed within reach behind kills from Jordan Prusky, Andrew Baaki, and Quincy Stayton, while Joshua Slater distributed the offense effectively. Penn State Behrend gradually built momentum through strong play at the net and timely service runs. Despite SUNY Poly's efforts to close the gap late, the Lions maintained control and edged out the Wildcats 25–17.
Set Two
SUNY Poly responded well in the second set, jumping out to an early lead behind aggressive net play and solid blocking. Baaki and Stayton provided consistent offense, while Hollingsworth and Prusky contributed key points during extended rallies. Penn State Behrend attempted to counter with service pressure, but SUNY Poly held firm and executed efficiently down the stretch. A late block sealed the set, giving the Wildcats a 25–22 win to even the match.
Set Three
Momentum shifted back to Penn State Behrend in the third set, as the Lions opened with a strong run to establish control. SUNY Poly continued to battle, receiving kills from Hennessy, Baaki, and Prusky, but Behrend's blocking and transition offense limited sustained rallies. Despite SUNY Poly trimming the deficit midway through the set, Penn State Behrend closed strong and captured the frame 25–18.
Set Four
The fourth set remained competitive early, with SUNY Poly trading points and staying within striking distance behind continued contributions from Baaki and Stayton. Penn State Behrend gradually gained separation through aggressive serving and balanced offense, forcing SUNY Poly into difficult situations. The Wildcats fought through the final points, but the Lions remained steady and closed out the set 25–13 to secure the match.
