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New England Volleyball Conference

Bears rally past Gators, advance to NEVC Semis

Bears rally past Gators, advance to NEVC Semis
April 8, 2026

by Potsdam Athletic Communications

POTSDAM, N.Y.—Fifth-seeded Russell Sage College (13-17) pushed the fourth-seeded SUNY Potsdam men's volleyball team (12-6) to the brink, but the Bears rallied for 3-2 victory in the New England Volleyball Conference Quarterfinals. The win earns them a semifinal meeting with top-seeded Endicott College for the third time in four seasons.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

  • The Gators started quickly and stayed in front for the 25-19 set one win. Graduate Student Matt Kilinski (Greenfield Center, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) had five kills for the Bears, while senior outside hitter Duncan Tenhagen (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca West) had three and senior middle hitter Mike Kilinski (Greenfield Center, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) added two.
  • Potsdam bounced back to take set two by an identical 25-19 score. Tenhagen led the way with seven kills, while freshman right side Brayden Kilinski (Greenfield Center, N.Y./Saratoga Springs) had four.
  • Sage pulled away late to take set three 25-22. Brayden Kilinski had another four kills and Tenhagen totaled three.
  • With their season on the line, the Bears raced out to an 11-4 lead in set four and rolled to a 25-15 win to even the match. Tenhagen had eight more kills in the set and Matt Kilinski contributed four more.
  • The teams went back-and-fourth in the fifth set, before Potsdam clinched the victory with a 4-0 run, taking the set 15-11. Matt Kilinski had four more kills and Tenhagen chipped in three.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • Tenhagen stepped up, notching 24 kills and nine digs. Matt Kilinski finished with 16 kills, nine digs and an ace. Brayden Kilinski recorded a career-high 10 kills to go with three aces.
  • Junior setter Alex Lombardo (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) had a season-high 55 assists along with a block.
  • Mike Kilinski contributed seven kills, four blocks and two aces.
  • Freshman libero Rowan Root (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute) added 14 digs.
  • Junior opposite Dylan Fox (Albany, N.Y./Colonie) led the Gators with 17 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore John Lindheimer III (Albany, N.Y./Colonie) had 12 kills and a block.

 
ALL-NEVC AND PROGRAM RECORDS

  • Earlier in the day Matt Kilinski was named first team All-NEVC and Mike Kilinski claimed a spot on the second team. Lombardo was named to the NEVC Sportsmanship Team. Tenhagen and Lombardo were snubbed for all-conference nods despite being elite again this season.
  • Tenhagen reached the 900-kill plateau during the contest and raised his program record to 915. His ace record remains at 129.
  • Lombardo's program assists record is up to 1688.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Bears square off with the Gulls at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in Beverly, Mass. Follow the contest here:

Live Stats: https://www.ecgulls.com/sports/mvball/2025-26/boxscores/20260411_xxue.xml
Live Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ecgulls/