
SUNY Potsdam’s Kayla Howard (14) prepares to block the spike
of SUNY Plattsburgh’s Laura Diehl. The Bears rallied
to defeat Plattsburgh 3-1 in the final match of the day.
Potsdam came out swinging in the first two sets, capturing
25-22 and 25-16 decisions. Potsdam fell behind early in the
third. Tia Wright Anne Fildes and Auerbach sparked a
run for the Bears to close the gap late in the set. However,
the Cardinals were able to hold on 25-22 to force a 4th set.
(John LaRue photo)
Match Gallery.
Nov. 3: The SUNY Potsdam volleyball team
(23-17) continued in post season action against Kean
University (28-10) in the first round of ECAC tournament
Friday night. The Bears fell in three sets to the Cougars
concluding a strong season. “I am proud of the seniors,”
said Head Coach Steve Pike. “Anne Fildes (Red Hook, N.Y. /
Red Hook), Kayla Howard (Marcellus, N.Y. / Marcellus), and
Jill Dye (Middletown, N.Y. / Minisink Valley) have worked
hard and I thank them for everything they have given us.”
The Bears battled hard in a closely contested three sets.
Potsdam fell behind late in the first set as Kean held a
21-17 lead. The Bears clawed back into the game, closing the
gap before the Cougars claimed the set, 25-23. Potsdam
responded in the second set, generating a 13-9 lead over
Kean. The Cougars answered with a late run to close out the
game, 25-22. The third set was another fight to finish as
the Bears refused to close out the season. The battle-tested
squad fought to the end, dropping the final set of the
season, 26-24. Junior outside hitter Dakota Pruiss
(Wallkill, N.Y. / Wallkill) led the Bears attack with 11
kills. Junior setter Jenna Blujus (Baldwinsville, N.Y. /
C.W. Baker) totaled 26 assists and 10 digs. Senior libero
Jill Dye added nine digs, respectively. “I am proud of how
the team competed, how they have practiced, and how they
have carried themselves the entire year,” said Pike. “I
think Dakota had her best offensive match of the year. Jenna
did a good job at distributing the ball and Dye did a good
job in serve receive.”
Nov. 2: The SUNY Potsdam volleyball team (23-15) opened the
SUNYAC Championship tournament with a 3-1 win over Oneonta
State (21-13) before dropping their second contest of the
evening to Fredonia (19-15), 3-0. “I am very happy for our
program,” said Head Coach Steve Pike. “We battled and fought
together as a team. Overall, I thought our serve receive was
the key to the game and it kept us in system.” Oneonta
rushed out to an early 8-3 lead in the first set as Potsdam
struggled to find a rhythm. Junior setter Jenna Blujus
(Baldwinsville, N.Y. / C.W. Baker) calmed the Bears as she
served to a 13-13 tie. Potsdam rallied behind their reliable
setter and closed out the game 25-22. The Red Dragons pulled
away from the Bears once again in the beginning of the
second set with a 9-2 lead. Potsdam closed the gap with a
late rally by senior middle hitter Anne Fildes (Red Hook,
N.Y. / Red Hook) but Oneonta was able to halt the charge and
claim the set, 25-20. The third and fourth games were very
different as the Bears garnered some momentum from junior
middle hitter Sara Anderson (Lake George, N.Y. / Lake
George), Fildes, and Blujus. Anderson’s serve generated a
large lead for Potsdam in the third set securing the 25-21
victory. Blujus’s serve sparked the Bears in the fourth game
as she fueled an 8-0 run late in the set for the 28-26 win.
Anderson led the Bears attack with 16 kills and freshman
outside hitter Rachel Auerbach (Ashburn, Va. / Stone Bridge)
followed with 11. Blujus totaled 38 assists. Senior libero
Jill Dye (Middletown, N.Y. / Minisink Valley) finished with
15 digs. “I thought Dakota Pruiss (Wallkill, N.Y. /
Wallkill), Gabby Arana (Williston Park, N.Y. / Herricks) and
Jill Dye did a good job in the serve receive. Allie
Romaniello (Selden, N.Y. / Newfield) came in and passed well
when we needed her to. It was great for Dakota to come back
from injury and do very well on defense and serve receive.
It was a great team effort.” The Bears faced a tough
Fredonia team in the second contest of the night. Potsdam
struggled against the Blue Devils serve. Fredonia was able
to keep the Bears out of system for the match winning in
three sets, 25-15, 26-24, and 25-18. Anderson finished
with six kills. Blujus totaled 15 assists and 10 digs to
lead the Bears. “We kept fighting even though we were not
executing in serve receive,” said Pike. “You have to give
Fredonia credit for serving tough and not committing errors.
We were out of system but I am happy with the way our
players kept fighting.”







