Men’s Volleyball Powers Past Polytechnic (N.Y.), 3-1

Men’s Volleyball Powers Past Polytechnic (N.Y.), 3-1

JAMAICA, N.Y. – Powered by a team-best eight kills from freshmen Derek Nipps (Turnersville, N.J.) and J.J. Podczasy (Macungie, Pa.), the Wells College men's volleyball team posted a 3-1 victory over the Blue Jays of the Polytechnic Institute of New York Saturday afternoon at the York College Invitational. With the victory, the Express improve to 8-7 overall on the season, their best record in program history. Following the defeat, the Blue Jays fall to 6-11 overall on the season.

The Express jumped out to an early 2-0 lead before yielding a 25-23 set to the designated host Blue Jays. Cumulatively, the Express won in four sets by scores of 25-15, 25-11, 23-25 and 25-14. Wells outhit the Blue Jays with a .211 hitting percentage, registering seven kills and three errors in 19 total attacks. NYU Poly converted six kills, but made six errors in the process.

Wells turned up the heat in thes econd set, hitting a combined .389 after making only three errors on 18 total attack chances. The Blue Jays took advantage of 10 errors by the Express in the third set, capturing a 25-23 decision before falling in the decisive fourth set and making six errors en route to the loss.

Nipps and Podczasy each posted eight kills apiece and only five combined errors between the two underclassmen while Nipps added three service aces to lead the team in that category. Junior setter C.J. Bayly (Waymart, Pa.) posted seven kills of his own while setting up 12 assists. He also chipped in two service aces. Defensively, freshman John Farruggia (Mt. Markham, N.Y.) tied classmate Tyler Wiley (York, Pa.) with eight digs apiece. 13 assists by Nipps led the team in that category.

For Polytechnic, Rild Kroqi led the team with 12 of his team's 26 kills. Rishi Sarkar set up 21 of his team's 26 kills while four different players registered three digs. The Blue Jays out-blocked the Express, 14-to-13 and made 14 service errors in the loss.

The Express return to action Saturday, Feb. 9 as they face-off against New Jersey City University in a 9:00 a.m. contest to continue play in the York College Invitational. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Wells College athletic department by "liking" us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/WellsExpress) and subscribing to our Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/WellsExpress).