ELMIRA, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly men's volleyball team opened up their 2024 season against Misericordia and Elmira on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats would drop both matches 3-0, and start 0-2 on the season. Despite not winning a set, the Wildcats had three total sets go into extra points.
GAME 1: In the first match against Misericordia, the Wildcats lost in straight sets 25-20, 29-27, and 25-21. The second set proved to be the most exciting in the first match, with both teams exchanging leads multiple times, before Misericordia would score the last two points to take the 29-27 victory.
In game 1, the Wildcats were led by Jason Aubrey with 12 kills, and Joshua Slater helped run the offense, totaling 21 assists. Misericordia was led by Anthony DePalma with 16 kills, and Gannon DeFrain led the way with 37 assists.
GAME 2: In the second match, the first two sets both went into extra points before Elmira won the sets 28-26, and 26-24. Despite trailing the entire first set, the Wildcats went on a run at the end to tie the set 24-24, before the Soaring Eagles won the next two points. In the second set, the Wildcats led the majority of the way before the Soaring Eagles made a late run to win the set 26-24.
Jason Aubrey, Jordan Weir, and Joshua Slater all had strong performances against Elmira. Jordan Peiser and Edwin Sosa led the way for the Soaring Eagles with 13 kills each.
UP NEXT: The Wildcats return to action on Friday, January 19th, as they take on Nazareth and Lasell in a Tri-Match.