Marcy, NY–The Sage Colleges' men's volleyball team opened the new season on Friday night competing at the 2016 SUNY-Polytechnic Wildcat Invitational. For the Gators, opening night marked the coaching debut of Robert Verhayden as the Gators' head coach. Sage dropped the first match to Wells College, 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-19). In the final match, Sage fell to Wentworth Institute of Technology, 3-0 (25-15, 25-14, 25-16) and stand at 0-2 on the young season.

The Gators will face Elms College at 11 a.m. on Saturday, before wrapping play in the tournament at 3 p.m. No. 4 ranked Nazareth College.

Against Wells, sophomore outside hitter Bailey Cecchi (Agawam, MA/Agawam) added 11 kills with three digs, and ace and three total blocks, while junior opposite Chris MacArthur (Hillsdale, NY/Taconic Hills) connected for two kills with five digs and an ace. Sophomore middle hitter Ryan Guyton (Lockport, NY/Lockport) picked up four aces with four kills.  Rookie setter Austin Laverty (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) tallied 20 setting assists with an ace, while sophomore outside hitter Melvin Tejada (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) earned five digs in his Gator debut.

Against Wentworth Institute of Technology, MacArthur had two kills, while Cecchi had six kill with two digs.  Guyton added six kills, while Laverty had 13 setting assists with five digs.