ALBANY, N.Y. – In front of a raucous crowd of local high school volleyball teams as part of "Section Two Night", Russell Sage College erased a 2-0 deficit to force a fifth set against SUNY Poly. The Wildcats took the decisive frame 17-15 to pick up a New England Volleyball Conference road victory.

The Gators received five kills or more from five different players, blocked seven SUNY Poly attacks and aced 10 serves.

Sophomore opposite Dylan Fox (Albany, NY/Colonie Central), the 2024 NEVC Rookie of the Year, led all participants with 18 kills on .244 hitting.  He added six digs, four total blocks, and three assists.

Freshman outside hitter John Lindheimer (Albany, NY/Colonie Central) contributed 15 kills on .300 hitting three aces, and two digs.

Freshman middle blocker Evan Devine (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) registered seven kills on .357 hitting, three aces, and two total blocks, while freshman setter Anthony Guetti (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) dished out 46 assists.

Junior outside hitter Peter Gottler topped SUNY Poly (13-9/1-0 NEVC) with 13 kills on .308 hitting and five digs.  Freshman middle blocker Andrew Baaki (Amsterdam, NY/Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons) tossed in 12 kills on .611 hitting and two blocks.

The Wildcats hit a combined .522 to take the first two sets, 25-14, 25-20.  With its back against the wall, RSC turned the tables with set victories of 25-19 and 25-23.  In sets three and four the Gators hit .454 as a team, while holding SUNY Poly to .136 hitting, including .050 in the third period.

RSC (5-19/0-4 NEVC) plays next on Friday at Springfield, currently ranked third in the latest AVCA national poll.

Gator Bites with Papa John's: The spring marks the fourth with Reid Hartl at the helm of the Gators…RSC returns six players from last season's team, highlighted by Fox, the 2024 New England Volleyball Conference Rookie of the Year…The opposite was chosen the NEVC Player of the Week for the period ending Sunday, February 23…He registered 57.5 points, 4.8 points per-set, 46 kills, 3.83 kills per-set, on .320 hitting, 17 digs, seven total blocks, six aces, and three assists across three contests…Hartl added nine newcomers to the roster, including senior middle blocker Confidence Burrowes (East Orange, NJ/Donald M. Payne/Wells)…Fox, Burrows, and senior opposite Wylkins Occelin (Brooklyn, NY/John Dewey) were voted co-captains.