Men's Volleyball Nets Victory Over Bard

MARCY, N.Y. – The Wells College men's volleyball team concluded the SUNY Poly Wildcat Invitational with a victory over Bard College after losing to Vassar College in the day's opener on Saturday. Wells exited its first weekend of play with a 2-2 record while Bard drops to 0-4. Vassar (4-0) remains undefeated on the young season.

Timely points lifted the Express to a four-set victory over Bard via scores of 25-16, 25-21, 23-25 and 25-22. Despite the Raptors leading in several team statistics, including total kills, hitting percentage, assists and digs, Wells managed to capture its second win of the year behind a team-leading 12 kills from senior John Farruggia (New Hartford, N.Y.). 

Sophomore Scott Litvin (Sayville, N.Y.) picked up the double-double for the Express, notching 28 assists while scooping up 14 digs on defense. Senior Derek Nipps (Turnersville, N.J.) also reached double-digit digs for the Express with 12 while freshman Kody McCracken (Wellsboro, Pa.) threw down 11 kills to rank second on the squad behind Farruggia. 

Vassar overwhelmed the Express in the day's opener, riding an outstanding .537 attacking percentage to a straight-set victory (25-16, 25-15, 25-18). Committing only six attacking errors on 67 total swings, the Brewers hit home a 42 kills and registered 23 digs. Recording four errors in the first set, Vassar made only two attacking errors the rest of the afternoon. 

McCracken struck for 10 kills, leading the Express, while Nipps' six digs were the team-high total. The latter also set up all 23 of his team's kills. 

Wells returns to the SUNY Polytechnic Institute next Saturday, Jan. 30 as the Express will take on the Pride from Regis (Mass.) College and the Nighthawks from Newbury College starting at 2 p.m.