UTICA, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly women's volleyball team earned their first wins of the season on Saturday afternoon at the Wildcat Field House 3-2 and 3-1 over Old Westbury. The Wildcats entered the game without a win in 695 calendar days and won not one, but two hard-fought games to bring their record this season to 2-7 overall.

GAME 1:

In the first game of the afternoon, the Wildcats had their backs against the wall trailing 0-2 after dropping the first two sets. The team bounced back in a big way, winning the third, fourth, and fifth sets to earn their first win of the year.

The match had great performances on both sides of the net. Brennah Durfee led the Wildcats with 13 kills, closely followed by Kierra Connor with 11 kills. Grace Southwick displayed exceptional setting skills, accumulating 37 assists in the match. Meghan Peek had a great game, totaling 19 digs which was her season high. Samantha Dee and Brennah Durfee had 18 digs each.

Stephanie Maser of Old Westbury led all players with 18 kills, while Jonangeliz Alvarez added 10 kills and contributed significantly with five service aces. Despite their efforts, Old Westbury was unable to capitalize on their early lead, as SUNY Poly rallied back to claim victory.

SUNY Poly's strong serving game, led by Ryan Fitzgerald's seven aces, played a crucial role in their comeback. They had 15 aces as a team.

GAME 2:

The SUNY Poly squad claimed victory with set scores of 25-21, 23-25, 25-18, and 25-16.

Grace Southwick, the team's quarterback on the court, orchestrated SUNY Poly's offense brilliantly, tallying an impressive 31 assists. Not only did she excel in setting up her teammates, but she also showcased her serving skills with four aces, setting the tone for the team's success.

Rylie Reynolds and Ryan Fitzgerald, the dynamic duo at the net, proved to be a formidable force. Reynolds delivered 9 kills with an impressive .389 hitting percentage, while Fitzgerald added 8 crucial kills and seven aces. Their strong presence in the front court put constant pressure on the Old Westbury defense.

Meghan Peek had a career-high 25 digs in the match for the Wildcats, surpassing her previous single-game high of 21.

Samantha Dee was instrumental in SUNY Poly's victory, contributing 17 vital digs and three service aces

UP NEXT:

The Wildcats will travel to Keuka on Tuesday, September 26th to take on the Keuka College Wolves in non-conference play. The game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.