Albany, NY–Sage's men's volleyball team hosted the Engineers of MIT in a UVC match as well as Rivier University on a non-conference match on Saturday.
In the first match, MIT posted a 3-1 win over the Gators (25-17, 25-18, 19-25, 37-35). The fourth and decisive set with a score of 37-35 is the highest score for the Gators since the team started in 2010, even when the scoring was based on a 30-point system.
In their last match of the day, Sage faced Rivier, but fell 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-18). Sage is now 4-15 overall, while holding a record of 0-5 in the UVC.
Against MIT, Sage's senior middle hitter Shane Wenz (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane) broke his own single-match record with his 30 kills, bettering his mark from earlier this season of 27 against SUNY-Polytechnic. Wenz added a .460 attack percentage with a school-single-match of 33.0 points. He added an ace with five digs and three total blocks in the action.
Senior Scott Sanders (Los Angeles, CA/Taft) racked up eight kills with 11.5 points after also adding six digs with six total blocks on five block assists. Senior captain Jarod Martel (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) added seven with three digs for the Gators. Junior setter Ryan Jennings (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick Township) added 41 setting assists with six digs and four total blocks.
Sophomore opposite Deshawn Fleary (Newark, NJ/Immaculate Conception Montclair) had three digs for Sage with a four total blocks and an ace and a kill. Junior libero Dan Mackey (Westerlo, NY/Greenville Central) added seven digs for Sage, while junior Austin Muntz (Hannacroix, NY/Greenville) racked up three digs and helped the Gators as they combined for a .250 attack percentage in the contest.
MIT's lineup, which included a local product combined for 10 aces and had a .278 attack percentage. Four players had double-digit kills including sophomore outside hitter Bradley Albright (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) who led the team with 13 kills, a .370 attacked percentage. He had 14.5 points with an ace, four digs and a block assist. Graduate player Jacob Gasparich (New Lenox, IL/Lincoln-Way West) finished with 12 kills off a blistering hot .923 attack percentage. Rookie setter Seth Fine (Allentown, PA/Parkland) had 58 setting assists with three digs for the Engineers. Sophomore outside hitter Tommy Ogeka (Manorville, NY/Eastport South Manor) added 10 digs with three aces and a kill for MIT in the contest.
Against Rivier, Wenz added 11.5 points and had 10 kills, while Martel also had 10 kills with 11.0 points after adding four digs with two block assists. Jennings and Sanders each added four kills, while Jennings also racked up 24 setting assists with two aces.
Rivier's senior outside hitter David Smith (Clinton, OH/Jackson) added 12 kills with a .364 attack percentage with three aces and 16.0 points. Junior middle hitter Matt Hagan (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills Ballston Lake) picked up three kills with two block assists. Senior setter Pedro Campos (Downey, CA/Bell) added 25 settings assists with two digs and a pair of block assists.
Sophomore defensive specialist Jack Hromada (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills Ballston Spa) added three digs for the Raiders.
As the Gators continue to move deeper into the 2020 season, several team members are continuing their climb in the program's career record book. Wenz is currently fifth in career kills with 643 and is also fifth in points with 824.0. He is third in solo blocks (54), third in block assists (152) and third in total blocks (206), while also now ranking 10th with his 324 digs. Jennings is second with his 1,593 career setting assists. Sanders is seventh in career kills with 473 kills, while also stand fourth in block assists with 117. He has moved into fourth with his 152 total blocks, while ranking seventh in career points with 610.5 points.
Sage will be in action on March 6 and 7 travelling to Keuka College to compete in their Tournament.
