Springfield, MA- The Sage Colleges' men's volleyball team travelled to Springfield College for a pair of non-league matches with the No. 1 ranked team in Division III and the defending NCAA Champions, Springfield College as well as regional opponent, Rivier College. In the first match on Saturday, Sage lost Springfield College, but in some tight sets, falling 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-21). The Gators then faced Rivier and dropped a 3-0 decision (25-21, 25-19, 25-18) and are now 7-10 on the season.
Sage's senior outside hitter Ryan Guyton (Lockport, NY/Lockport) recorded his 1,000th career kill in the team's first match with Springfield College. He is now just one of three Sage men's players with 1000 or more kills. Against Springfield, he added 10 kills with 13 points while connecting for two aces with three digs.
Senior outside hitter Bailey Cecchi (Agawam, MA/Agawam) tallied eight kills with three digs and three solo blocks. With his effort against Springfield, he added his 100th career total block of his time in a Sage uniform.
Sophomore outside hitter Jarod Martel (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) picked up three kills with a block assist, while sophomore middle hitter Scott Sanders (Los Angeles, CA/Taft) added five kills with a .400 attack percentage. Rookie setter Ryan Jennings (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick) added 12 setting assists in the match with three digs. Junior opposite Austin Laverty (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) added 13 setting assist while senior libero Casey Fitzpatrick (Haverhill, MA/Haverhill) picked up seven digs.
Against Rivier College, Guyton was the top performer with his 15 points in 12 kills with a .304 attack percentage. He also had just one receiving error on 21 attempts for a .955 reception percentage. After Saturday's match, Guyton continues to add to his active career point record that has grown to 1,291.5 points. He stands at 1,018 career kills, which is third best. He also has a career mark with his 186 aces, while he is also climbing the career total block record with 133 total blocks which is fourth.
Cecchi added six kills and six digs against Rivier with 7.0 points on a perfect match with no reception errors on 20 attempts. He is rapidly closing in on the Sage career kills record as he is second with 1,022, just 23 away from breaking the mark held by Dylan Krowicki (1,044, 2012-2014). He is also climbing the program's career point list and is currently third with 1,291.5 points.
Fitzpatrick picked up 12 digs in the second match and leads the team this year with 173, while watching his active career mark grow to 790.
Jennings racked up 17 setting assists with a pair of digs in the nightcap, while Laverty added 15 setting assist with three digs. Sophomore Tyler Schnaible (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) had a .364 attack percentage with six kills. Sanders added seven kills with two block assists as well for the Gators.
Sage will be back in action on March 10 taking on Nazareth College in a UVC match held at SUNY-New Paltz at 1 p.m.