Albany, NY–Sage's men's volleyball team hosted the Wildcats of SUNY-Polytechnic on Wednesday evening in a non-conference contest. The Gators picked up a 3-2 win over the Wildcats for the team's first victory of the season (25-22, 24-26, 18-25, 25-23, 15-11). The Gators are now 1-9, while SUNY-Poly drops to 3-5.
Sage senior middle hitter Shane Wenz (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane) set a Sage single-match record as he led the team with his 27 kills, bettering the mark set by Dylan Krowicki (2014 vs. Mt. St. Vincent). Wenz had a .404 attack percentage in the match with eight digs, 27.0 points and had a .935 reception percentage. His 27.0 points ranks No. 3 all-time as well in single-match records for the Gators.
Senior captain Jarod Martel (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) picked up 11 kills as well with 13.0 points and had six digs.
Senior Scott Sanders (Los Angeles, CA/Taft) finished with seven kills with an ace, and two digs.
Junior setter Ryan Jennings (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick Township) added 43 setting assists with three digs, and an ace. Sophomore opposite Deshawn Fleary (Newark, NJ/Immaculate Conception Montclair) added 12 digs for the team with three kills, two aces and had just two receiving errors on his 19 attempts for a .905 reception percentage. Junior defensive specialist Dan Mackey (Westerlo, NY/Greenville Center) racked up nine digs with no receiving errors on 20 attempts to help Sage to a .205 attack percentage as a team in the action with a .893 combined reception percentage.
SUNY-Poly's senior middle back Garrett Hassard (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta Sr.) added 20.0 points with 15 kills and sported a .480 attack percentage with two aces and six block assists. Senior Connor Schultz (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) added 12 kills with 19.0 points with five aces and six digs for the Wildcats. Senior outside hitter Jacob Vergari (Brockport, NY/Brockport) added 13 digs with no receiving errors on 29 attempts. Rookie setter Nathan Farnham (Penfield, NY/Penfield) added 52 setting assists with three kills, an ace and four digs.
Through 10 matches this season, several Gators are taking aim at the career record book. Wenz is now fifth in career kills as he surpassed the 500 mark on Wednesday night and now has 512 kills. He is third in solo blocks (50), third in block assists (140) and third in total blocks (190) and also sixth in points (679.0). Jennings is third with his 1,353 career setting assists.
With the release of the latest NCAA Division III Men's volleyball statistics, Sage is ranked in several team categories while some of the team's players are also nationally ranked. The Gators rank 60th in blocks per set (1.464), 68th in team hitting percentage (.138), and 76th in kills per set average (8.93). Wenz is ranked in five categories as he stands 46th in attacks per set average (0.607) and 63rd in points per set (3.63). Sanders is ranked in four different categories including 45th in hitting percentage (0.333). Jennings is 62nd in settings assists per set with a 6.86 per set average, while Mackey checks in with Wenz for a tie at 137th in digs per set average (1.93). Martel is ranked in four categories as well.
Sage will be in action on February 7 travelling to Vassar College for a 6 p.m. UVC match with the Brewers. The Wildcats are back in action on February 8 for a 1 p.m. NEAC road match at Keuka College.