Utica, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly men's volleyball team earned a hard-fought 3–1 victory over the Houghton University Highlanders on Friday night, overcoming a tight opening set to take control of the match and win by a score of 3-1. The Wildcats move to 7-6 on the season. 

Set One:

The opening set featured a back-and-forth battle that saw both teams trade points early, with neither side able to establish firm control. SUNY Poly leaned on a balanced attack from Peter Gottler and Aaron Hennessy, while Andrew Baaki contributed key kills as the Wildcats stayed within striking distance. Houghton answered with steady offense from Jonah Sissel and Devin Cline, capitalizing on SUNY Poly service errors to keep the score tight. Late in the frame, the set swung dramatically as Houghton rallied from set point behind strong serving from Caleb Stephens, forcing extra points. Despite a late kill from Quincy Stayton to tie the score at 25–25, Houghton closed out the marathon opening set 27–25 to take a 1–0 lead.

Set Two

SUNY Poly responded with urgency in the second set, jumping out to an early lead and never relinquishing control. Joshua Slater efficiently distributed the offense, setting up kills from Baaki, Gottler, Hennessy, and Stayton, while the Wildcat block created problems for Houghton's hitters. A service ace from Gottler extended the lead, and SUNY Poly continued to pressure Houghton into attack errors. Strong late swings from Kaiden Ranger and Stayton sealed the set, as SUNY Poly evened the match with a convincing 25–15 victory.

Set Three

Momentum carried over for SUNY Poly in the third set as the Wildcats opened with an aggressive run behind Baaki and Gottler. The Wildcats capitalized on Houghton miscues and controlled the net, using timely service pressure to build separation. Hennessy added multiple kills down the stretch, while SUNY Poly's defense limited Houghton's ability to mount a sustained response. SUNY Poly closed the set efficiently, 25–12, taking a 2–1 advantage in the match.

Set Four

The fourth set saw SUNY Poly assert control early and maintain it throughout. Baaki and Ranger paced the offense, while Slater added a service ace during a decisive stretch that widened the gap. Gottler continued to be a reliable option at the net, and SUNY Poly's blocking disrupted Houghton's attack. Despite scattered points from Houghton, the Wildcats remained composed and finished strong, closing out the set 25–14 to secure the match.