ALBANY, N.Y. –  Russell Sage College swept both ends of this afternoon's doubleheader with Northern Vermont University - Johnson. The Gators (2-3) won the opener 25-19, 25-18, 25-21, and took the second game 25-22, 26-24, 25-23.

Senior middle hitter Mikhail Hailu (Saratoga Springs, NY/Schuylerville) totaled 15 kills on .250 hitting, four aces, and three blocks on the day. Junior outside hitter Corey Topple (Hudson, NY/Hudson) registered 12 kills and 16 digs, while setter Ryan Jennings (North Brunswick, NJ/North Brunswick Twp.), a graduate student, contributed 38 assists and three aces.

Middle hitter Zachary Anderson topped NVU-Johnson (0-2) with 29 kills on .283 hitting, and 13 digs. Setter Eli Harden dished out a combined 39 assists.

A trio of Gators put down 6+ kills in the opener to help net Head Coach Reid Hartl his first career victory. Hailu led the way with seven kills on .429 hitting, while Jennings tallied 19 assists.

In the second game, RSC pulled off a late comeback to take the middle set. The Gators rallied for 14 of the final 17 points, including 10 of the last 11, to go up 2-0.

Topple recorded six kills and seven digs to pace RSC, while Anderson had 21 kills on .368 hitting for the visiting Badgers.

Looking ahead, the Gators are slated to play next at Dean on Tuesday at 7:00 pm.

Notes: RSC went almost 700 days without playing due to the COVID-19 pandemic…The Gators are making their debut as an associate member of the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) this season…League coaches picked RSC to finish sixth in the NECC…The spring also marks the maiden voyage with 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…Jennings began the campaign second in program records with 1,696 career assists…Kyle Ray '13 has the top spot with 2,910 career assists. 

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