POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly men's volleyball team dropped two matches to nationally ranked teams on Saturday. The Wildcats faced #5 UC-Santa Cruz and #10 Vassar, losing both matches 0-3.
In their first match, the Wildcats played the Banana Slugs tight in all three sets, but ultimately fell 23-25, 19-25, 23-25. Max Szuba (Irondequoit, N.Y) led all players with 11 kills. The junior also had three digs and a service ace. Connor Schultz (Lancaster, N.Y.) had seven kills in the match n 19 swings. Schultz had a match high two solo blocks and two block assists. Piotr Kasza (Queens, N.Y.) had 29 assists in the mach. Brian Malsan (Slingerlands, N.Y.) had a match high nine digs.
Three UC-Santa Cruz players tallied eight kills in the match. Raymond Cascio had eight kills and two block assists. Lake Merchen had eight kills and a service ace. Ryan Manley had eight kills, three block assists, and six digs.
The second match of the day was another three set loss for the Cats'. Vassar won the match 25-17, 25-21, 25-12. The Brewers hit .360 in the match. SUNY Poly sophomore Garrett Hassard (Oneonta, N.Y.) led his team with seven kills on nine swings. Max Szuba, Connor Schultz, and Ryan Gloff (Brockport, N.Y.) each had five kills in the match. Zach Goggin (Feeding Hills, Mass.) had a team high seven digs and 21 assists.
Vassar's Mathew Knigge had a match high 12 kills on 18 swings. Garth Verdeflor had a match high eight digs for the Brewers and Zechariah Lee had a match high two service aces and26 assists.
With the two losses, the Wildcats are now 5-12 overall.
Up Next:
The Wildcats will travel to Elms College on Thursday, March 15th. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 PM start.