Wildcats To Play Four Matches At Wells Tournament This Weekend

2/28/2019 10:10:00 AM

By: By Mike Miranto, Sr. Associate A.D. for External Operations & Communications

GAME INFORMATION & LINKS
MATCH #12: Daemen Wildcats (3-8) vs. SUNY Poly Wildcats (7-7, 3-1 NEAC)
Friday, Mar. 1 | 6 p.m. | Aurora, N.Y. | Farenthold Athletic Wing | Wells Classic MVB Tournament

MATCH #13: Daemen Wildcats (3-8) vs. Lasell Lasers (5-6, 1-1 GNAC)
Friday, Mar. 1 | 4 p.m. | Aurora, N.Y. | Farenthold Athletic Wing | Wells Classic MVB Tournament
Live Stats

MATCH #14: Daemen Wildcats (3-8) vs. Misericordia Cougars (9-8, 2-3 MAC)
Saturday, Mar. 2 | 2 p.m. | Aurora, N.Y. | Farenthold Athletic Wing | Wells Classic MVB Tournament

MATCH #15: Daemen Wildcats (3-8) vs. Wells Express (11-6, 2-1 NEAC)
Saturday, Mar. 2 | 4 p.m. | Aurora, N.Y. | Farenthold Athletic Wing | Wells Classic MVB Tournament
Live Stats

THE SERVE
Daemen heads to Central New York for a four-match weekend at the Wells Classic MVB Tournament. While there, the Wildcats will take on NCAA Division III opponents SUNY Poly, Lasell, Misericordia and tournament host Wells. It marks the third tournament for Daemen during their inaugural season. They've previously taken part in the Red Invitational hosted by St. Francis (Pa.) (Jan. 11-12) as well as the Juniata Invitational (Jan. 25-26). The Wildcats have dropped two straight matches, and are coming off a 3-0 loss to Wells at Lumsden Gymnasium earlier this week.

THE BEARDED ONE
Don Gleason was named the first head men's volleyball coach at Daemen on May 5, 2017, the same day that the establishment of the program was announced. Gleason brings a wealth of experience to the position, including previous coaching stops at Stony Brook, Buffalo, Yale, Southern California and Medaille. In addition to his coaching responsibilities with the men's program, Gleason has served as an assistant coach with the Daemen women's team for the past three seasons, helping them to a pair of NCAA tournament berths.

THE FRESHMEN EXPERIENCE
Daemen is fielding a nine-man roster in this inaugural season, and all nine are freshman when it comes to athletic eligibility. Eight of the nine players are new to Daemen this year. Freshman setter Michael Krueger is expected to run the team's offense, and he'll be distributing to the likes of Jahari Winkfield and Jesse Donorovich, both of whom are adjusting to more playing time on the pin after playing primary in the middle during their respective scholastic careers. Australian product Henry Moffitt gives the Wildcats a big presence down the middle with his 6-foot-6 frame. Defensively, the Wildcats will rely on freshmen Ryan Beck and Jaden Gillette to dig balls in the back row.

OUT-BATTLING THE BATTLERS
Daemen picked up the first win in program history in their debut match, defeating the Alderson Broaddus Battlers in a five-set thriller on Jan. 11 as part of the Red Flash Invitational. Jahari Winkfield (Oswego, Ill.), Jesse Donorovich (Lockport, N.Y.), Michael Krueger (Canonsburg, Pa.) and Jaden Gillette (Spencerport, N.Y.) paced the Wildcats. Winkfield, a 6-foot-4 right side/middle hitter totaled a team-high 20 kills—including six in the fifth set alone. Donorovich, a 6-foot-5 outside hitter/right side, posted 18 kills (five in the fifth set) and also totaled two service aces, five blocks and eight digs. Krueger, a 6-foot-2 setter, handed out 47 assists and also recorded eight digs. Gillette, a 5-foot-10 defensive specialist, registered 18 digs.

MANHANDLING THE MAVERICKS
In the first-ever meeting between Daemen and Medaille, the Wildcats ousted their crosstown rivals in three sets on Feb. 9. Led by setter Michael Krueger (26 assists) and outside hitter Kyle Kon (team-high nine kills), Daemen attacked at a season-best .246 clip. On the flip side, Medaille committed 21 hitting errors and 20 service errors. It marked Daemen's first regular season home match, and their first-ever win at Lumsden Gymnasium. The Wildcats followed up with a 3-1 win over Medaille on Feb. 17 as part of the D'Youville quad-match. Kon led the way again with 16 kills, while Krueger tallied 39 assists.

REGARDING HENRY
Freshman middle hitter Henry Moffitt was named to the all-tournament team at the Juniata Invitational. The 6-foot-7 Aussie totaled 16 kills over three tournament matches, and attacked at a .353 clip. He averaged 1.6 kills and 1.0 blocks per set, and became the first-ever Daemen player to earn all-tournament team honors.

SUNY POLY SCOUTING REPORT
SUNY Poly is a member of NCAA Division III and the North Eastern Athletic Conference. The Wildcats are led by head coach Katie LaClaire who is in her second season at the helm. Last season, LaClaire led the Wildcats to a 14-15 overall record and a 6-2 mark in NEAC play. LaClaire brings back 11 players from her 2018 team, including All-NEAC selections Max Szuba (2nd team) and Ryan Gloff (3rd team). SUNY Poly is off to a 7-7 start this season, and they'll ride a two-game winning streak into tournament play this weekend. Szuba has paced the Wildcat offense thus far, averaging 3.04 kills per set this season.

LASELL SCOUTING REPORT
Lasell is a member of NCAA Division III and the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. The Lasers are led by acting head coach Dana Jones who is in his first season. The Lasers posted a 29-6 overall record last season, and advanced to the GNAC Championship finals where they fell to Wentworth. Twelve players return to the roster this season, including third team All-GNAC outside hitter/defensive specialist Jordan Aprea. Lasell is off to a 5-6 start this season, and they'll take a two-match winning streak into a Thursday meeting with Rivier before partaking in the weekend tournament at Wells. Scott Sterenberg (1.53 kills/set) and Conor Leary-Watson (1.53 kills/set) pace a balanced Lasell offense that features seven players averaging at least 1.0 kills per set.

MISERICORDIA SCOUTING REPORT
Misericordia is a member of NCAA Division III and the Middle Atlantic Conference. The Cougars are led by second-year head coach Robert Wingert who was tabbed as the program's first-ever head coach. In the program's inaugural season, Wingert led the Cougars to a 13-17 record, including a 3-9 mark in MAC play. Four players from Misericordia's inaugural team return, including first team All-MAC and MAC Rookie of the Year honoree Ryan Miller who averaged a team-high 3.55 kills per set last season. The Cougars are 9-8 this season, and coming off a 3-0 loss to Stevenson. The Cougars are featuring a more balanced offense this season with Miller averaging 2.61 kills per set, and supported by newcomer Brian Ross who is contributing 2.30 kills per set.

WELLS SCOUTING REPORT
Wells is a member of NCAA Division III and the North Eastern Athletic Conference. The Express are led by first-year head coach Jim Nichols, a 15-year player on the AVP Pro Beach Tour who was elevated to the position after serving as an assistant coach in 2017 and 2018. As an assistant, Nichols helped Wells advance to the NEAC championship match in each of the last two seasons. Just four players return from Wells' 2018 team that went 21-8 overall and 7-1 in NEAC play. That group is headlined by first team All-NEAC outside hitter Caden O'Loughlin, as well as third team All-NEAC picks Robert Patzer and Josh Undari. Patzer, a 6-foot-6 right-side hitter, was also named the 2018 NEAC Rookie of the Year. The Express are off to an 11-6 start this season, including a 2-1 mark in NEAC play. They've won four of their last five matches, and their only recent setback was a 3-2 final against the top-ranked Division III team in the country, Springfield. O'Laughlin (4.22 kills/set) and Patzer (3.02 kills/set) have paced the Wells offense which is being run by Undari (9.75 assists/set).

ON THE HORIZON
The home portion of Daemen's inaugural schedule wraps up when they host Alderson Broaddus for a pair of matches on March 8 and 9.

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