UTICA, NY – The Buffalo State men's volleyball team split their final day in the SUNY Poly Invite, suffering a loss to the #17 Nazareth University Golden Flyers, 3-1 but picking up a victory over the invite hosts SUNY Poly Wildcats, 3-1.  

GAME ONE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Nazareth University – 3, Buffalo State – 1
SET SCORES: (14-25, 17-25, 25-18, 16-25)
LOCATION: Wildcat Field House – Utica, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 0-3 (0-0 AMCC), Nazareth University: 3-1 (0-0 UVC)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Davian Serrano Colon (Naranjito, Puerto Rico) led the Bengals nine kills in the game, with Hayden McCue (Fairport, NY/Fairport) backing him up with eight kills of his own.
• Drew Bowman (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) racked up the assists, picking up 28 in today's matchup.

 HOW IT HAPPENED

• Starting the second day of the SUNY Poly Invite, the Bengals faced it's third ranked opponent in the invite, with a bout against the #17 ranked Nazareth University Golden Flyers. The first two sets of this matchup proved the Golden Flyers meant business, as they would out-play the Bengals early and taking an early 2-0 set lead over the Bengals.
• The third set would see the Bengals fight back, jumping out to an early 7-2-point lead in the set. While the Golden Flyers would fight back, rallying to bring the set within two-points, the Bengals would keep their foot on the pedal as they carried their momentum to a 25-18 set win, with hopes to rallying back and win in five sets.
• In the fourth set, the Golden Flyers would jump out quick on the Bengals with their own 7-2-point lead on the Bengals. However, the Bengals would continue to rally, getting points as they could to bring this set within two-points…but the Golden Flyers proved to be too much, rallying three-set points twice and clinching the full game win with a 25-16 win in the fourth set.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Owen Wickens led the Golden Flyers with 14 kills, while also picking up seven digs on defense.
• AJ Burda tallied 33 assists, with four aces for the Golden Flyers.

 
GAME TWO BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 3, SUNY Poly – 1
SET SCORES: (25-23, 25-19, 21-25, 28-26)
LOCATION: Wildcat Field House – Utica, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 1-3 (0-0 AMCC), SUNY Poly: 1-3 (0-0 NEVC)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Gavin Wilczewski (Elma, NY/East Aurora) led the Bengals with 16 kills and two aces against the Wildcats. Brady Bowman (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) backed up Wilczewski with 11 kills.
• Drew Bowman led the Bengals with 38 assists, while tallying 12 digs on the defensive end for the Bengals.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a tough loss against SUNY Poly, the Bengals looked to end the invite in a positive manner as they took on the invite host, SUNY Poly. In the first set, the Bengals came out strong jumping out to an early 13-8 set lead over the Wildcats. However, a three-point rally would bring the Wildcats within striking distance, before rallying four-points and taking a one-point lead over the Bengals. But credit to the Bengals, who didn't flinch and would rallying back to take the first set win.
• The second set would see the Bengals learn from their mistakes in the first set, as they jumped out quick on the Wildcats…rallying five-straight points and taking the second set win, with a clinching win nearby.
• The third set would see the Wildcats fight back the Bengals dominance, with a back-and-forth game being played. As both teams battled, the Wildcats would do just enough, avoiding the sweep and taking the Bengals into a fourth set.
• The fourth set would be an entertaining one, with both teams fighting for supremacy. With the Bengals jumping to a 12-8-point lead, the Wildcats would rally five-straight points, retaking the lead. With the finish getting closer, both teams would rattle off points, tying at 25-25, before a Bengals three-point rally would be the finale in this battle, clinching a 28-26 set win and winning the matchup 3-1.

 
FOR THE FOES

• Adam Brawn led the Wildcats with 12 kills.
• Joshua Slater led the Wildcats with 35 assists, while Thomas McNulty would lead the Wildcats on defense with 22 digs.

 
UP NEXT
The Bengals will get a couple-days of rest, before returning to action on the road as they travel to #11 St. John Fisher University on Friday, January 17^th at 3:00 P.M.