MARCY, N.Y. – The SUNY Poly women's volleyball team hosted three non-conference matches this past weekend. On Friday the Wildcats hosted SUNY Geneseo and on Saturday they hosted Nazareth and SUNY New Paltz. The Wildcats came out of the three games without a win but gained valuable experience in the hardest games of their 2016 schedule.  

On Friday against SUNY Geneseo the Wildcats lost in three sets; 20-25, 13-25, 20-25. The Wildcats did not hit particularly well in the match (.053 as a team). Ryenn Smith (Lyons, N.Y.) led all players with 10 kills in the match. She also had 11 digs, a block assist, and a service ace. Melissa Krak (Canastota, N.Y.) had seven kills, two service aces, and eight digs in the match. The Knights on SUNY Geneseo were led by Tricia Baxley who had nine kills on 15 attempts. The Knights setter Emily Ast had 31 assists.   

Saturday's first match was a four set loss to Nazareth for the Wildcats; 25-21, 14-25, 23-25, 25-27. The Wildcats celebrated their senior day against Nazareth. The Wildcats honored five outstanding Seniors before the game; Lauren Knowles (Washingtonville, N.Y.), Shelby Kostal (Greenport, N.Y.), Melissa Krak (Canastota, N.Y.), Ryenn Smith (Lyons, N.Y.), and Emma Larson (Miller Place, N.Y.).

Emma Larson was able to combine the celebration of her senior day with the celebration of her 1000th career kill. Larson became just the third Wildcat to reach the 1000 career kill mark in the history of the women's volleyball program.

In the match, the Wildcats came out of the gate strong against a tough Nazareth team. The Wildcats took the first set 25-21. Unfortunately, that early success gave way to the powerful attack of Nazareth who would go on to win sets 2 through 4 by hitting well as a team.  The Wildcats were led by the senior duo of Ryenn Smith and Emma Larson who combined for 25 kills. Smith had 14 kills and 15 digs in the match. Larson had 11 kills, four service aces, and 10 digs. Sydney Johnson (Nine Mile Falls, W.A.) set well in the match. She had 40 assists and had 10 digs. For Nazareth, Melissa Newcomb led the Hawks with 12 kills. The Golden Eagles hit a respectable .212 as a team in the match.

The Wildcats final match of the weekend was a three set loss to New Paltz; 17-25, 18-25, 16-25. The match ended quickly for the Wildcats who were overmatched by the Hawks of New Paltz. Ryenn Smith again led her team with seven kills and three digs. Emma Larson had four kills in the match and had a team high seven digs. The Hawks Anna Paulik led all players with nine kills and had a seven digs and three block assists.

The Wildcats are now 14-10 this season. They are in first place in the NEAC with a 9-1 record. The team will host the season's last NEAC Crossover event of the season next weekend against Cazenovia, Wells, and Keuka. The Wildcats next match is on Wednesday when they will travel to Hamilton. The game is scheduled for a 6:00 PM start.