ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College began its season by dropping a pair of matches against Hilber and Wells this afternoon.
Freshman outside hitter Dylan Fox (Albany, NY/Colonie) recorded 33 kills, 4.13 per-set, on .211 hitting, 11 digs, five aces, and three total blocks across the pair of non-conference setbacks.
Outside hitter Jarod Martel, a grad student, (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) contributed 22 kills and 19 digs, while senior opposite Wylkins Occelin (Brooklyn, NY/John Dewey) tallied 14 kills.
RSC blocked 11 attack attempts on the afternoon, with freshman middle hitter Michael Bruyette (Cobleskill, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) totaling six of them. Sophomore setter Connor Murphy (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) distributed 58 assists, 8.29 per-set.
In what was the season opener for both teams, RSC fell to Hilbert 3-0. The Hawks totaled 11 blocks in the sweep. Junior outside hitter Brad Converse paced Hilbert (2-0) with five kills, while junior setter Austin Chandler registered 13 assists.
The Gators had three players tally four or more kills against the Hawks. Fox led the trio with 10 kills, while opposite Deshawn Fleary, a grad student, (Newark, NJ/Immaculate Conception Montclair) dished out seven assists.
Down 2-1 to Wells in their nightcap, the Gators took the fourth set 25-20 to go to a deciding fifth set. The Express (1-4) emerged victorious in the "Race to 15", 15-8.
Fox topped all participants with 23 kills on .255 hitting. The rookie served up four aces and elevated eight Wells attacks.
Martel, back on the court for the Green and White for the first time since 2020, achieved a double-double of 18 kills on .424 hitting and 14 digs.
Senior outside hitter Connor Garvey helped Wells secure its first victory of the spring with 18 kills and seven digs.
Looking ahead, the Gators (0-2) host SUNY Poly for "Section 2 Night" on Wednesday at 7:00 pm.
Gator Bites: 2024 marks the Gators first as members of the New England Volleyball Conference…League coaches picked RSC, under the direction of Reid Hartl, to finish sixth in the NEVC…The roster, which has six returnees from last season, boasts plenty of local flavor with eight student-athletes hailing from Section 2…Hartl, now in his third season, added seven newcomers to the roster, including four freshmen…Four grad students are the roster, including co-captains: Fleary and Martel.
