Men’s Volleyball Set Back To Conclude SUNYIT Invitational

MARCY, N.Y. – The Wells College men's volleyball team posted back-to-back 3-0 losses at the hands of Bard College and Mt. Ida College Saturday to conclude the 2013 SUNYIT Invitational. The Express drop to 0-4 overall on the young season.

Against Mt. Ida in the day's opener, the Express lost by set scores of 25-19, 25-15 and 25-18. The team opened the first set with a negative hitting percentage (-.058, 6-7-17), but finished stronger in the final two sets, converting 14 kills across the final two sets.

Freshman J.J. Podczasy (Macungie, Pa.) tallied a team-best seven kills to lead the way for the Express while sophomore Paul Hernon (New Hartford, N.Y.) led the team with a .333 hitting percentage, hammering home four kills alongside only one error. Junior setter C.J. Bayly (Waymart, Pa.) recorded nine assists while freshman Derek Nipps (Turnersville, N.J.) ranked second with eight to his credit. Podczasy led the team with six digs in the first game of the day.

Against Bard College, the Express lost in three sets by scores of 26-24, 25-12 and 25-22. Despite forcing extra points in the opening set, the Express dropped the second game by 12 points before Bard secured the three set victory in the finale.

Bayly and Podczasy each recorded six kills while Hernon again posted the team's best hitting percentage (.250, 5-2-12). Podczasy and sophomore Andrew Jacobs (Millburn, N.J.) each recorded two service aces while Nipps chipped in with a team-leading five digs defensively.

In the opener against Sage, the Express lost by set scores of 25-22, 25-22 and 25-15. Wells, however, opened up the first set with a 6-0 run to begin their season. From there, however, the Express went on to drop the next two sets by only three points before falling in the third and decisive set.

Sophomore Paul Hernon (New Hartford, N.Y.) led the way with a team-best .500 hitting percentage, converting six of his 12 total attacks for kills without making a single error. Freshman J.J. Podczasy (Macungie, Pa.) recorded a team-leading nine kills in 17 total attacks while classmate Derek Nipps (Turnersville, N.J.) also chipped in with seven kills to his credit. Freshman John Faruggia (Mt. Markham, N.Y.) posted two solo blocks and a block assist in the defeat.

The Express return to action Saturday, Feb. 2 as they face-off against Cazenovia College in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. Stay up to date with the latest news directly from the Wells College athletic department by "liking" us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/WellsExpress) and subscribing to our Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/WellsExpress).