POTSDAM, NY – The #16 Buffalo State men's volleyball team picked up two more wins to a strong start of their new season, taking down Regis College, 3-1, before closing out invite host, SUNY Potsdam, 3-1, to continue their undefeated streak.

GAME ONE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 3, Regis College – 1
SET SCORES: (25-21, 23-25, 25-14, 25-21)
LOCATION: Jerry Welsh Gymnasium – Potsdam, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 5-0 (0-0 AMCC), Regis College: 4-2 (1-0 Great Northeast)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Gavin Wilczewski (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora) led the Bengals with 15 kills, while Kaden Strong (Buffalo, NY/West Seneca East) had a strong showing in support with 14 kills.
• Drew Bowman (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) dished out 21 assists, while Jackson Stang (Tonawanda, NY/Sweet Home) backed him up with 18 assists.
• Defensively, Stang led all players with a game-high 15 digs, with Jamie Courtright (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) picking up two blocks at the net.  

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After sweeping the Hobart Tournament in their last outing, the Bengals traveled to SUNY Potsdam to participate in the SUNY Potsdam Invite, opening against the Regis College Pride.
• In the first set, the Pride and the Bengals traded points until the Bengals rallied for four straight, gaining an early advantage. When the Pride responded with a five-point run to keep the game close, the Bengals answered with another four-point rally to shut down the Pride and secure the first set.
• In the second set, the story would remain the same, with both sides continuing their trend of trading points at the start. As the Bengals would go on another run of four-straight points to take the lead, the Pride would respond with a six-point rally to steal the second set from the Bengals.
• The Bengals would respond strongly in the third set, controlling play early and learning from their past mistakes of not letting the Pride back into this matchup. A seven-point run from the Bengals would prove that sentiment true, closing out the Pride in dominant fashion, with their eyes on the fourth set to claim victory in this matchup.
• Looking for a close-out and their first match win, the Bengals and the Pride traded points until a four-point rally gave the Bengals the edge. Although the Pride narrowed the gap late in the set, the Bengals responded with a decisive push to finish the Pride in four sets and secure their first victory at the SUNY Potsdam Invite.

FOR THE FOES

• Brandon Valdes and Adam Bonica each finished with eight kills, while Evan Shank led all players with 26 assists.
• Defensively, Shank also led the Pride with eight digs.

GAME TWO BASICS

FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 3, SUNY Potsdam – 1
SET SCORES: (22-25, 25-22, 25-22, 25-23)
LOCATION: Jerry Welsh Gymnasium – Potsdam, NY
RECORDS: Buffalo State: 6-0 (0-0 AMCC), SUNY Potsdam: 1-1 (0-0 NEVC)

INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE

• Brady Bowman (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) led the Bengals with 14 kills, while Strong continued his tremendous showing in this invite, racking up 13 kills.
• D. Bowman dished out 45 assists, leading all players in this matchup.
• On the defensive end, Wilczewski led the Bengals with 12 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After dropping the Regis College Pride in four sets, the Bengals aimed to close out host SUNY Potsdam Bears and finish the day 2-0.
• In the first set, the Bengals fell behind early as the Bears found a rhythm and took the fight to them. A five-point Bengals rally brought the set back even. But the Bears retook control and finished the drive, closing out the Bengals in the first set.
• Needing a strong response, the Bengals regrouped in the second set as both teams exchanged points. A four-point Bengals rally secured a late lead, but the Bears retaliated with their own run to even the score. Racing to 25, the Bengals executed another four-point rally to clinch the second set and tie the match.
• In the third set, the same saga unfolded into a trilogy, as both sides continued trading points. Another late four-point run by the Bengals gave them the edge needed to take the third set, with another four-set win on the horizon.
• In the final set, the Bears repeated their strong play, taking the lead with a five-point rally. The Bengals, trailing, responded with a composed six-point run of their own, overtaking the Bears to win the set and complete a sweep at the SUNY Potsdam Invite.

FOR THE FOES

• Matt Kilinski led the Bears with 21 kills, while Alex Lombardo finished with 41 assists.
• Defensively, Rowan Root led the Bears with 17 digs.

UP NEXT
The Bengals will take their undefeated season to the Baldwin Wallace Invite next Saturday and Sunday, January 31st and February 1st. Next Saturday, they play a doubleheader—first against the University of Mount Union at 2:00 PM, then St. Norbert College at 4:00 PM.