Men's Volleyball Posts Back-to-Back 3-0 Losses

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Wells College men's volleyball team posted back-to-back losses against Medaille College and D'Youville College Saturday afternoon at the former's campus. Following the contests, the team's overall record stands at 5-8 while Wells' North Eastern Athletic Conference record evens at 2-2.

Medaille, who improved to 3-7 after the day's opening match, dispatched the Express via set scores of 28-26, 25-20 and 25-22. D'Youville, who Wells beat by a 3-1 score earlier in the season, powered their way past the Express in three sets (25-22, 25-21, 25-21).

Against Medaille, Wells was led by freshman Brannon Perdicho (Victor, N.Y.) and his eight kills. Freshman Scott Litvin (Sayville, N.Y.) assisted 25 of his team's 29 kills while also chipping in with a team-best six digs. Senior Paul Hernon (New Hartford, N.Y.) and junior John Farruggia (West Winfield, N.Y.) each contributed five block assists in the match.

Wells posted quite the battle against Medaille in the opening set as the score was tied 18 different times. A key service error by the Express with the score tied at 26 opened the door for a David Hill kill, setting a tone for the rest of the sets. Wells had tied the score at 15 following a kill by Liam Kaylor (Falls Church, Va.), but Medaille would strike for eight out of the set's next nine points in stunning fashion.

A hotly-contested third set would swing in the hosts favor once again as Wells battled the Mavericks to a 14-14 score before Medaille rattled off six-straight points and never looked back. Kaylor stepped up down the stretch, hammering home two kills in the final six plays of the match, but the early hole was difficult to come out of.

Medaille hit a collective .239 in the match and registered 10 service aces. Calvin Crosby tallied a team-best 12 kills while David Riggsby assisted 35 kills. Peter Lotocki scooped up seven digs in the win.

Junior J.J. Podczasy (Macungie, Pa.) posted seven kills for Wells in the match against D'Youville. Litvin's 24 assists once again led the team while Podczasy and libero Jack Battumur (Denver, Colo.).

Wells did not get off to a good start in the match, falling in an early 7-1 hole against the Spartans. Following a Wells timeout, the Express rebounded to tie the game at 18 aside but three-straight Spartans points placed a comeback out of reach. The second set saw much of the same from the Express, falling into a 7-3 deficit and never coming close to retaking the lead. D'Youville led from start to finish in set three.

The Spartans were led by Brett Cawthorn and his 12 kills. Chris Busha set up 32 kills while also racking up 11 digs defensively. As a team, D'Youville hit a collective .224 as opposed to Wells' mark of .063.

Wells returns to action Friday, Feb. 20 as they travel to Keuka Park, N.Y. to take on their NEAC-rivals at Keuka College. The match will begin at 6 p.m.