Utica, N.Y. – The SUNY Poly women's volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to St. John Fisher University. The Wildcats battled throughout the match, falling 25-17 in the opening set before Fisher took the second set 25-19. Poly continued to compete in the third set, keeping the contest within reach through the early stages before the Cardinals used a late scoring run to secure a 25-16 victory and complete the sweep.
SET ONE
St. John Fisher jumped out to an early lead in the opening set, taking a 4-0 advantage before the Wildcats got on the board with a kill from Mylee Magnanti, assisted by Grace Southwick. Poly began to find its rhythm, with Kassity Cruz contributing a kill and a service ace to help cut into the deficit. Magnanti added another kill, while Cruz and Magnanti teamed up for a block as the Wildcats continued to battle. Fisher maintained its advantage with consistent attacking and service pressure, extending its lead to 14-6. Poly responded with kills from Daniella Aluisio and Magnanti, while Catherine McCourt and Ella Eichorst contributed service aces. The Wildcats continued to generate offense through the middle stages, with McCourt and Olivia Linart recording kills on assists from Southwick. Poly pulled within five points at 22-17, but Fisher closed out the set with three consecutive points to take the opening frame 25-17.
SET TWO
The Wildcats looked to respond in the second set, but Fisher opened with back-to-back points to take an early 2-0 lead. Cruz answered with a kill off an assist from Southwick, while Poly continued to work its way into the set. Cruz added two service aces to help the Wildcats take a 5-5 tie, and McCourt connected on a kill assisted by Southwick to keep the score even at 6-6. The teams traded points through the early stages, with Cruz, McCourt and Kassity Cruz contributing offensively. Fisher gradually began to create separation, using a combination of kills and service aces to build a 14-8 advantage. Poly answered with kills from Eichorst and Aluisio, while McCourt added another point to help the Wildcats stay within reach. Southwick also contributed offensively, recording a kill as Poly continued to battle. The Wildcats found another push late in the set, with McCourt and Aluisio connecting on kills and Eichorst adding another point to bring Poly within four at 23-19. Fisher held off the rally, however, scoring the final two points to secure a 25-19 victory and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
SET THREE
SUNY Poly came out competing in the third set, recording an early kill to tie the score at 1-1. Southwick added a kill, while Cruz and Linart contributed additional points as the Wildcats looked to keep pace. Fisher answered with a scoring run, using consistent attacking to build an early advantage. Poly continued to battle, with Daniella Aluisio and Magnanti recording kills, while Eichorst connected on another scoring play off an assist from Southwick. The Wildcats found some momentum in the middle stages, as Cruz and Southwick teamed up for another kill and Poly added points from Linart and Catherine McCourt. Fisher began to pull away, however, using a series of kills and service pressure to extend its lead to 24-13. Poly continued to fight, with Cruz recording another kill and Julia Holmes contributing a kill and a point off a Fisher attack error to bring the Wildcats to 16. Fisher ultimately closed out the set 25-16 to complete the three-set victory.
