MARCY, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly men's volleyball team lost to Lancaster Bible on Saturday in a closely-contested four set match. Both teams played outstanding volleyball with Lancaster Bible earning the win in a thrilling 33-31 fourth set. The final set scores were 25-19, 25-12, 23-25, 33-31. The Lancaster Bible Chargers came into the game ranked ninth in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top-25 Poll. The Wildcats are now 14-11 this season with a 5-2 NEAC record.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

With the exception of the second set, every point of this matchup was tightly contested between

the Wildcats and the Chargers. The Chargers took set number one 25-19 thanks to a slim margin in hitting percentage. The Wildcats stumbled in set number two due to the high attack percentage of Lancaster Bible who had 14 kills on 24 attempts for a .542 hitting percentage as a team. The Wildcats took set number three 25-23 thanks to solid defensive play and serving paired with some timely errors on the part of the Chargers. Set number four was by far the most exciting set of volleyball this season. The Wildcats and Chargers battled back and forth for a total of 64 points in the set. The lead changed hands multiple times down the stretch with neither team abe to edge out a lead. The set would be decided ultimately by Nate Miller's big eight kill set leading to the 33-31 win in set number four.

NOTABLES:

• Donovan Suguitan (Clifton Park, N.Y.) led the Wildcats with 15 kills on 38 swings. He hit .263 in the match with two service aces, seven digs, and a block assist.

• Max Szuba (Irondequoit, N.Y.) also had a fantastic match. He had 14 kills and hit .265 for the Wildcats. He also had eight digs, a service ace, and an assist.

• Piotr Kasza (Queens, N.Y.) had 34 assists in the game for the Wildcats. He also totaled four digs, two service aces, and a dig.

• As is typical, Brian Malsan (Slingerlands, N.Y.) led the Wildcats with 11 digs in the game. His career total dig number is now 855.

• Garrett Hassard (Oneonta, N.Y.) led the way on the block for the Wildcats. He had to block solos 2 kills and two digs in the match.

• Lancaster Bible's Nate Miller led all players with 21 kills on 46 swings for a hitting percentage of .217. Miller also had  three block assists, a block solo, and five digs.

• Kole Horst had 18 kills for the Chargers. He also had five digs and a block assist.

• Kyran Flahive had nine kills on 20 swings for Lancaster Bible. Flahive also led the Chargers with 11 digs.

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats will host Wilson College in a North Eastern Athletic Conference match-up on Sunday March 31st. The Wildcats will be celebrating their annual Senior Day, honoring the four seniors from this year's team. The ceremony will take place right before the game which is scheduled for a 12:00 PM start.