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SUNY Potsdam volleyball team splits on second day of Oneonta Invitational

Posted 9/2/12

ONEONTA -- The second day of the Oneonta Invitational was very similar to the first for the SUNY Potsdam volleyball team. The Bears opened the day with a loss, 3-0 to Houghton College, but bounced …

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SUNY Potsdam volleyball team splits on second day of Oneonta Invitational

Posted

ONEONTA -- The second day of the Oneonta Invitational was very similar to the first for the SUNY Potsdam volleyball team.

The Bears opened the day with a loss, 3-0 to Houghton College, but bounced back with a 3-0 victory over Emmanuel College.

Against the Highlanders, Potsdam was edged in the first two matches by identical 26-24 scores, before falling 25-14 in the finale.

Senior middle hitter Kayla Howard (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus) led the Bears’ attack with 10 kills.

Junior setter Jenna Blujus (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) contributed 21 assists and junior outside hitter Dakota Pruiss (Wallkill, N.Y./Wallkill) added nine digs and five kills.

Potsdam was stronger against the Saints, registering three straight victories by scores of 25-17, 25-15 and 25-13. Pruiss paced the Bears with 11 kills, while Howard finished with nine and freshman right side Rachel Auerbach (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) totaled eight.

Blujas remained in top form with 32 assists, four aces and eight digs. Senior libero Jill Dye (Middletown, N.Y./Minisink Valley) rounded out the leaders with nine digs.

Bears Head Coach Steve Pike saw a lot of positives from the opening weekend, but admitted there’s a lot of room for improvement. “Everyone played and contributed and we had some strong play from our veterans, but we’re still figuring some things out right now,” said Pike.

“We need to be more consistent overall. Getting to that point is what the early part of the season is about. Now we have to get prepared for Clarkson.”

Next, the Bears travel across town to face the Golden Knights on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. Potsdam returns home Friday to host the two-day Victory Promotions Invitational.