ALBANY, N.Y. –  Russell Sage College was upended 3-0 by visiting Nichols College tonight in the Kahl Campus Center.

Junior outside hitter Corey Topple (Hudson, NY/Hudson) (above) topped the Gators in the New England Collegiate Conference contest with six kills and five digs. Senior middle hitter Mikhail Hailu (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) added four kills, while setter Ryan Jennings (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick Twp.), a graduate student, distributed 16 assists.

Nichols (11-8/2-0 NECC), under the direction of former Gator Casey Fitzpatrick '18, hit .302 as a team in the sweep. Sophomore middle hitter Tanner Soracco led the Bison with 11 kills. Freshman outside hitter Dylan Knapp contributed seven kills on .875 hitting and four aces, while sophomore setter Nick Martin recorded 30 assists.

Looking ahead, RSC (4-18/0-3 NECC) plays next on Friday at SUNY Potsdam. Opening serve is slated for 4:00 pm.

Notes: The Gators are making its debut as an associate member of the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) this season…League coaches picked the Gators to finish sixth in the NECC…The spring also marks the maiden voyage with Reid Hartl at the helm of the program…He took over as head coach in October 2021…Two players, senior opposite Deshawn Fleary (Newark, NJ/Immaculate Conception Montclair), and Jennings returned from the 2020 RSC team.

#SageNation