Houghton, N.Y. – The SUNY Poly men's volleyball team earned a straight-set road victory on Wednesday evening, defeating the Houghton Highlanders 3–0. The Wildcats controlled key stretches of each set and used timely runs to secure the win by scores of 25–22, 25–21, and 25–23. The Wildcats are now 15-9 on the season.
Set One
The opening set began with both teams trading early points as Houghton capitalized on several Wildcat attack errors to take a quick lead. Kills from Jonah Sissel and Devin Cline helped the Highlanders build a 5–2 advantage before SUNY Poly began to respond. After substitutions brought Joe Rehbit and Aaron Hennessy into the rotation, the Wildcats found momentum. Rehbit sparked a scoring run from the service line while distributing the offense, assisting on kills from Corey Hollingsworth, Hennessy, and Andrew Baaki to push SUNY Poly in front.
Houghton answered with a rally of its own behind a service ace from Josh Thiesen and several kills from Sissel to close the gap late in the set. The Wildcats maintained composure, however, with Quincy Stayton and Baaki contributing important points down the stretch. After the Highlanders trimmed the deficit to two, Hennessy delivered a late kill off a set from Forest Chaput to seal the 25–22 opening-set victory for SUNY Poly.
Set Two
The second set remained competitive early, with both sides exchanging points through the opening portion. Stayton and Vincenzo Geloso provided early offense for the Wildcats, while Houghton countered with production from Jared Wright and Sissel to keep the score tight.
Midway through the set, SUNY Poly created separation as Rehbit recorded a service ace and the Wildcat defense, led by Baaki and Prusky, disrupted the Highlander attack. The Wildcats extended their lead to five points after kills from Hollingsworth and Prusky. Houghton responded with a brief surge late in the frame, highlighted by back-to-back service aces from Caleb Stephens that cut the deficit to one.
SUNY Poly answered immediately with key plays from Prusky and Baaki, who combined for multiple late kills to halt the comeback attempt. Geloso closed the set with a decisive kill from Eben Krein, giving the Wildcats a 25–21 win and a two-set advantage in the match.
Set Three
The final set proved to be the most tightly contested of the night. Early blocks from Aaron Hennessy and Kaiden Ranger helped SUNY Poly stay even as the teams traded points through the opening rallies. Houghton briefly gained momentum behind kills from Devin Cline and Sissel to edge ahead midway through the set.
The Wildcats responded with a strong run sparked by Rehbit's serving. A service ace and multiple assists from Wildcat setters set up consecutive kills by Stayton and Ranger, allowing SUNY Poly to regain control. Additional points from Aiden Passmore and Andrew Baaki extended the Wildcat lead to six.
Houghton mounted a late comeback attempt, using a service ace from Wright and several attack errors by SUNY Poly to tie the set at 22–22. The Wildcats regrouped in the closing moments, as Stayton delivered a clutch kill from Rehbit to reach set point. On the final rally, Ranger teamed up at the net for a block on Devin Cline to secure the 25–23 set win and complete the 3–0 sweep for SUNY Poly.
