Union, NJ- Sage's men's volleyball team opened the 2018 season on Saturday competing at the Kean University Classic. Sage opened the campaign taking on No. 14 ranked Mt. St. Joseph's College, but dropped the opener, 3-0 (25-11, 25-14, 25-21). In the second match with the College of Mt. St. Vincent, the final score in five sets, was CMSV 3-2 (22-25, 27-25, 25-21, 21-25, 19-17).

Against Mt. St. Joseph's senior Ryan Guyton (Lockport, NY/Lockport) added nine kills with five digs. Senior Bailey Cecchi (Agawam, MA/Agawam) added six kills with a pair of digs. Junior Austin Laverty (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) added 15 setting assists with three digs to pace Sage.

In the match with the Dolphins of CMSV, the match was back and forth with every point as it went extra sets and still needed extra points to decide the victor.

Cecchi led all of the Sage players with his 21 kills. He added three aces with three digs. After Saturday's numbers, he has now tallied 1,031 career points which ranks fourth all-time at Sage. He is also second with his 998 career aces and has 878 career kills which is also No. 2 on the career list. Guyton added 19 kills with four aces and six digs. Guyton, who already owns Sage's career ace mark, has 159 aces now, while adding 872 career kills (No. 3). He boasts 1,111 career points and No. 2 in career points as a Gator.

Junior Zackery Karl (West Monroe, NY/central Square) had 10 kills in the match with an ace, four digs and an impressive .600% attack percentage. Sophomore Scott Sanders (Los Angeles, CA/Taft) added 13 kills with a .435 attack percentage in the match for the Gators.

The Gators will host SUNY-Polytechnic on January 24 at 7 p.m. in the team's 2018 home opener in Kahl Gym.