Oneonta, N.Y. – Men's Volleyball hosted SUNY Potsdam for back-to-back playdays, playing in 10 sets to close out their inaugural season.

THE BASICS

• Final Score: Potsdam 3, Hartwick 2
• Location: Oneonta, NY | Lambros Arena
• Records: Potsdam (10-5, 3-3 NEVC) Hartwick (5-20, 0-0 DIII Independent) 

HOW IT HAPPENED (Match 1)
Hartwick stormed out to an early lead, Nate Roorbach (East Aurora, NY) serving the Hawks on a 5-0 run. Badr Aly (East Syracuse, NY) opened the scoring with a kill, Anthony Ruggiero (Schenectady, NY) pushing Hartwick further ahead with 3 successful attacks. The Hawks saw action from across the net, Roorbach using all ends of the attack to gain an edge on the opposing Bears. Potsdam fought to keep the gap tight, both teams trading points to set the tone for the match. Two late kills from Ruggiero kept the score even, but a two-point offensive run from Potsdam closed the first in a 26-25 final.

Potsdam used their momentum, coming out with a 3-0 lead to begin the second set. A Bears service error gave Hartwick an opening, Ethan McCaw (Ilion, NY) gaining a kill to tie the score early. Keegan Doherty (Methuen, MA) pushed Hartwick into the lead with a kill, while Aly worked hard from behind the service line to widen the gap. The Hawks hit twelve kills to Potsdam's seven in the second, taking the set 25-21 to even the score. With the game on their side, the Hawks brought their intensity into the third set, downing 20 kills on 46 attacks while hitting an impressive .304. Ethan McCaw (6) and Keegan Doherty (7) accounted for 13 of the total team kills, proving essential from the pins.

With Hartwick up two sets to one, Potsdam began to find their rhythm, holding the Hawks to 18 points in the fourth. Heading into the fifth with sets tied, both teams went point for point in a race to 15. The Bears went on a three-point run to bring themselves up 9-6. An Aly kill brought the serve back to the Blue and White, with Ruggiero behind the service line to give Hartwick four straight points off of serves. Up 12-10, Potsdam's offense found defensive openings to keep the set live. A Potsdam attack error brought the serve back to Hartwick, but the Bears pushed back to end the set in a 15-13 final.

HOW IT HAPPENED (Match 2)
Coming in hot to their second play-day, Hartwick surged with an early 6-point run to begin their first set. The Hawks managed 4 kills and an ace to start the day, pressing another 4-point run to put them up 10-2. Potsdam applied pressure, going on two runs of their own to bring the game up 17-20. With the Bears on their tails, the Hawks held firm to keep their lead. Matt Ramirez (Rome, NY) and Keegan Doherty worked hard from the middle and pin to push themselves up 24-18, with Ruggiero ending the set with a final kill to head into the second.

Potsdam made line-up changes in the second set, responding to the Hawks with new intensity. The Bears took the set 25-20, hitting 13 kills at a .417. Ruggiero and McCaw led the offensive charge with 4 kills each, while Ruggiero gained two service aces to try to apply pressure to the opposing team.

The Hawks fought even harder in the third, coming out on top with a 25-17 deficit. Roorbach found success from his pin hitter, Keegan Doherty, who led the team with five kills. Hartwick moved in unity hitting 15 kills, notching two blocks, and downing two aces to put themselves in a winning position.
With both teams consistently neck and neck through their matches, Potsdam found their way into a point-for-point situation in the fourth. Potsdam went on a three-point run at 15-15 to gain an edge, a Ruggiero kill bringing the serve back to Hartwick. Potsdam added insurance with a kill, going on another service run to put them in 20-point territory. Hartwick was unable to come back, and the Bears took the fourth set 25-20 to force a fifth and final set.

At 15-9, the Bears took the fifth set to win the match. Despite Potsdam's win, the scoring lines were almost even as the Hawks battled to come on top. Keegan Doherty led the team with 19 kills on three blocks on the day. Roorbach dished out a career high 51 assists, along with downing two aces. Libero, Colby Myers (Ilion, NY) defended the court with 10 digs, Ruggiero adding to the defensive effort with 11.

About Hartwick College:
Hartwick, often referred to as The Life Balance College, is a private liberal arts and sciences institution in Oneonta, N.Y. Through its distinctive FlightPath approach, Hartwick blends academic excellence, career preparation and an active campus life to help students achieve a balanced and fulfilling college experience. With transparent tuition and a focus on health and wellness, Hartwick prepares students for lifelong success—both professionally and personally.