The SUNY Potsdam volleyball team split their two matches in the final day of the RIT Invitational. The Bears came up short against Medaille but bounced back to get an impressive win against Brockport. It was the first time Potsdam had beaten the Golden Eagles in five years.

The first match of the afternoon saw the Mavericks of Medaille College get off to a quick start and take the first two sets 25-16 and 25-23. Potsdam would not go down easily as the Bears would rally to take the third and fourth sets 25-21 and 25-14 to force a decisive fifth set. Despite trailing 4-1 to start the set, Potsdam came back to take a 10-8 lead thanks to aces from junior Jillian Dye (Middletown, N.Y./Minisink Valley) and junior Jessica Archinal (Amsterdam, N.Y./Amsterdam). However, Medaille would pull away after a couple Potsdam errors and took the set 15-11. For the match, Potsdam was led by sophomore setter Jenna Blujus (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) who had an impressive stat line of 11 digs, 29 assists, and six aces. Senior outside hitter Samantha Strader (Watertown, N.Y./South Jefferson) had 13 kills and sophomore outside hitter Dakota Pruiss (Wallkill, N.Y. / Wallkill) added 12 kills and eight digs.

In the tournament finale, the Bears faced a familiar opponent in Brockport. Potsdam showed no ill effects of the heart-breaking loss to the Mavericks and jumped out to win the first set 26-24. Brockport came roaring back to take the second set 25-17. However, the Bears would recover and gain victories in the next two sets 25-19 and 25-22 to earn the win. Dye keyed the Bears win with 20 digs and Blujus had 34 assists and 12 digs. Pruiss was the kills leader with 12 and also had 10 digs while freshman outside hitter Tia Wright (Vestal, N.Y. / Vestal) chipped in seven kills.

“It always feels a little better when you win” coach Pike added after the matches. “We battled back and fought hard to finish on a high note before heading into conference play.”

The first of two weekends of SUNYAC pool play will be hosted by Oneonta. The Bears will take on the hosts at 3 p.m. on Friday and then Plattsburgh at 7 p.m. Saturday features match-ups against New Paltz at 12 p.m. and Cortland, who is ranked 17th in the nation, at 2 p.m.