Records Fall as Men's Volleyball Sweeps Saturday Slate

MARCY, N.Y. – For only the second time in program history, the Wells College men's volleyball team swept a doubleheader on Saturday after posting a 3-2 victory over the Raptors of Bard College before sweeping the Wildcats of Cazenovia College 3-0 on the campus of the SUNY Institute of Technology. Wells improves to 2-2 on the season while Bard concludes the tournament at 1-3. Cazenovia (0-3) remains winless on the season.

Against Bard in the day's opening match, Wells was able to battle back and collect a five-set victory over the Raptors via set scores of 26-24, 20-25, 25-19, 25-27 and 15-13. The Express traded sets with the Raptors before eventually settling the score in the fifth, decisive set by two points. The five set victory for Wells is the first-ever in team history – the Express had previously battled to four sets nine different times.

Freshman Mathew Armlin (Fort Plain, N.Y.) set a program record for attacking percentage (.458) in one game, hammering home 13 kills alongside only two errors in 24 total chances. Armlin's net front presence was also noted on the stat sheet as he chipped in four solo blocks, also a team record in that category. Sophomore Derek Nipps (Turnersville, N.Y.) assisted 47 of his team's 59 kills, a team-record mark for helpers in one match.

Additionally, four different players reached double-digit dig totals, including C.J. Bayly's (Waymart, Pa.) team-leading 17 digs across the five sets. Sophomore John Farruggia (Leonardsville, N.Y.) hammered home five service aces while junior Chris Tinozzi (Syracuse, N.Y.) posted three service aces.

Bard was led by Billy Williams and his 15 digs for the Raptors. Henry Kasiske assisted 39 kills while five players recorded 10-plus digs, led by Kasiske's 19 digs.

The Express were able to quickly dispatch the Wildcats from Cazenovia College in straight sets (25-15, 25-15, 25-13). Sophomore J.J. Podczasy (Macungie, Pa.) led the team with 11 kills in 21 total attacks and also posted 12 service aces, shattering the previous team record of eight by Bayly against Sage on Jan. 25, 2013. Nipps turned in 17 assists while Bayly posted seven digs defensively. As a team, Wells hit .209 (33-14-91) while the Wildcats converted only 14 kills on 50 total attacks (14-8-50).

Cazenovia saw a team-best eight kills from Conor Scholefield. Devin Purcell assisted 10 of his team's 14 kills while Scholefield and Jacob Bitz racked up six digs apiece.

Wells returns to action this Saturday, Feb. 1 as they travel to the campus of Sarah Lawrence College to participate in a tri-match versus the host Gryphons and the Bridges of Brooklyn College starting at 1:00 p.m.