MARCY, N.Y. - The Wildcats of SUNY Poly earned victories over Cazenovia in each of their final two matches of the season on Friday night (25-15, 25-17, 21-25, 25-12) and (25-16, 25-9, 25-12). With the two wins, the Wildcats finish the shortened season with an overall record of 6-2.

MATCH #1:

SUNY Poly came out firing in the first set, as they took an early 17-7 lead on a service ace from senior Shannon McIntyre (New Berlin, N.Y.). Cazenovia would bounce back, as they cut the lead down to seven points on a service ace of their own. From there on out, the Wildcats would control the set. Karlie King (Liverpool, N.Y.) put Cazenovia away with one of her eight kills.

Cazenovia and SUNY Poly went back and forth to begin the second set. Emma Draper (North, Chili, N.Y.) gave the Wildcats a boost with a 3-0 run capped off with a service ace to give SUNY Poly the lead. Cazenovia would try to mount a comeback, but they were unable to regain the lead. Consecutive aces from senior Kaley Pichura (Syracuse, N.Y.) gave the Wildcats a commanding two set advantage.

After dropping a hard fought third set, SUNY Poly rebounded and went on several long runs to take the set and the match in convincing fashion.

NOTABLES:

• Seniors Makayla Hulett (Colonie, N.Y) and Brittany Adams (Clifton Park, N.Y.) tallied eleven kills apiece.

• Brooke Taverne (Westmoreland, N.Y.) had nine kills and a kill percentage of .692.

• Karlie King totaled six service aces and 22 digs to go along with her eight kills.

• Kaley Pichura had a solid all-around match, finishing with 41 assists, three service aces, 13 digs, and five kills.

• Emma Horsch paced Cazenovia with nine kills and seven service aces.

MATCH #2:

With the momentum on their side, SUNY Poly gained an early lead on a strong service run from Emma Draper. Cazenovia battled back and cut the lead to five points, but would not get any closer. SUNY Poly went on to win the set 25-16.

The second set was more of the same for the Wildcats. Kaley Pichura led the way for SUNY Poly, totaling five service aces in the second set alone. 

SUNY Poly again got off to a hot start in the third set as they jumped out to an 8-0 advantage. Four different Wildcats had service aces, as SUNY Poly went on to win the final set of their season 25-12.

NOTABLES:

• In their final matches in a SUNY Poly uniform, Kaley Pichura, Karlie King, Makayla Hulett, Brittany Adams, Shannon McIntyre, and Brooke Taverne all made significant contributions in the victory.

OUTLOOK:

As a result of the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic, the SUNY Poly Women's Volleyball season was moved from the Fall of 2020 to the Spring of 2021. In an effort to have a season, the Wildcats, the NAC, and the NCAA created a successful plan to give athletes the opportunity to play. This was especially vital to the SUNY Poly Women's Volleyball team, as it gave six departing senior student-athletes the chance to finish their careers on the court. The Wildcats will have a quick turnaround when they begin their 2021-22 preseason in just four short months.

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SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) is New York's globally recognized, high-tech educational ecosystem, formed from the merger of the SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and SUNY Institute of Technology. SUNY Poly offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in the emerging disciplines of nanoscience and nanoengineering, as well as cutting-edge nanobioscience and nanoeconomics programs at its Albany location and undergraduate and graduate degrees in technology, including engineering, cybersecurity, computer science, and the engineering technologies; professional studies, including business, communication, and nursing; and arts and sciences, including natural sciences, mathematics, humanities, and social sciences at its Utica/Rome location. Thriving athletic, recreational, and cultural programs, events, and activities complement the campus experience. As the world's most advanced, university-driven research enterprise, SUNY Poly boasts billions of dollars in high-tech investments and over 300 corporate partners since its inception. For information visit www.sunypoly.edu.