CANTON -- The SUNY Potsdam volleyball team improved to 4-0 with victories over Cazenovia and St. Michael’s in the second day of the North Country Classic at St. Lawrence.

Senior outside hitter Samantha Strader (Watertown, N.Y./South Jefferson) and sophomore setter Jenna Blujus (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) were named to the all-tournament team.

The Bears jumped on Cazenovia from the outset, winning the first game 25-5. While the Wildcats were more competitive in the final two sets, they never recovered, falling 26-24 and 25-17.

Junior middle hitters Anne Fildes (Red Hook, N.Y./Red Hook) and Kayla Howard (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) led the Potsdam attack with five and four kills, respectively. Junior libero Jillian Dye (Middletown, N.Y./Minisink Valley) and sophomore outside hitter Erin Wagner (Rochester, N.Y./Gates-Chili) each recorded 10 digs. Freshman outside hitter Tia Wright (Vestal, N.Y./Vestal) contributed six digs and 20 assists.

Bears Head Coach Steve Pike said his team’s aggressiveness early allowed others to get valuable game experience.

“We definitely went after them in that first set and we were able to get some other people in for some playing time,” said Pike. “That new group had a rough start to the second set, but you could really see the improve by the third. They started to execute at a high level and communicate better and that helped us against St. Michael’s.”

Division II St. Michael’s proved to be the Bears’ toughest opponent to date. The Purple Knights took the first two sets by scores of 26-24 and 25-19, but couldn’t close the door. Potsdam rallied for three straight set victories, winning 26-24, 25-20, and 15-11. Sophomore outside hitter Dakota Pruiss (Wallkill, N.Y./Wallkill) paced the Bears with 13 kills, three aces, and 12 digs. Strader also posted 13 kills, while Dye totaled seven aces and 26 digs. Blujus had 35 assists, 18 digs, and five kills and junior right side Jessica Archinal (Amsterdam, N.Y./Amsterdam) rounded out the leaders with four aces and five digs.

With his team’s back to the wall after the second set Pike made some adjustments that paid off.

“We made some defensive changes and we got Dakota in position to get some more swings,” Pike said. “Also Jill Dye went on a serving run and opened up the game a bit

Through four wins over the weekend Pike enjoyed seeing his team playing the way he knew they could.

“It was great to see their hard work pay off,” added Pike. It was great to see them achieve success because we worked so hard last year and we just couldn’t seem to find it. It was really good for them to feel that.”

The Bears face are back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 6, when they face Liberty League power Clarkson (4-0) at 7 p.m.