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MATCH #20: Daemen Wildcats (6-13) vs. Springfield Pride (23-2)
Saturday, April 6 |  4 p.m.  |  Poughkeepsie, N.Y.  |  Kenyon Hall  | Vassar Tri-Match
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MATCH #21: Daemen Wildcats (6-13) vs. Vassar Brewers  (13-13, 5-4 UVC)
Saturday, April 6 |  6 p.m.  |  Poughkeepsie, N.Y.  |  Kenyon Hall  | Vassar Tri-Match
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Live Stats


THE SERVE
Daemen returns to action by participating in a tri-match hosted by Vassar College. The Wildcats will open play against nationally-ranked Springfield College, before taking on the host Brewers.

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. Winkfield is averaging a team-high 3.03 kills per set this year, while Krueger has posted a team-high 585 assists (8.36 per set) and a team-high 120 digs. Donorovich leads the team in service aces (21) and ranks third in total blocks (31).

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, Jesse Donorovich, Michael Krueger and Jaden Gillette paced the Wildcats. Winkfield totaled a team-high 20 kills—including six in the fifth set alone. Donorovich posted 18 kills (five in the fifth set) and also totaled two service aces, five blocks and eight digs. Krueger handed out 47 assists and also recorded eight digs. Gillette 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.

SPRINGFIELD SCOUTING REPORT
Springfield is an independent member of NCAA Division III. SC has averaged 29 wins and has claimed five of the first seven NCAA Division III national championships. The Pride are coached by Charlie Sullivan, who is in his 21st season as head coach at Springfield. The 2017-18 AVCA Division III National Coach of the Year, Sullivan recorded his 400th career win earlier this year. SC is ranked second nationally among NCAA Division III teams and brings an eight match winning streak into the weekend. The Pride return three starters from a team that went 31-2 last year and won its second-straight NCAA Division III national championship. Freshman Brennen Brandow and senior Eli Irizarry Pares have paced a balanced attack that ranks seventh among Division III teams in hitting percentage (.293). Brandow is averaging a team-high 3.13 kills per set and also ranks fourth in blocks (45) and fifth in service aces (23). Irizarry Pares ranks second on the team in both kills per set (2.56) and total digs 161). Sophomore Eli Garbriel Irizarry Pares has dished out a team-high 781 assists and also leads the team in service aces (36).

VASSAR SCOUTING REPORT
Vassar is a member of NCAA Division III and the United Volleyball Conference. The Brewers are led by Richard Gary, who is in his third season as head coach. He led the program to 26 wins, a UVC regular-season title and a first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament in his first season at Vassar in 2017. His efforts earned him UVC Coach of the Year honors. The Brewers followed up with 23 wins and a return trip to the NCAA Tournament last year. The Brewers return five starters from their 2018 team. Junior Kevin Ros and senior George Diehl are the Brewers' top returning hitters. Ros pounded 2.32 kills per set and added 1.63 digs per set last season, while Diehl tallied 2.27 kills and 1.74 digs per set in 2018. Ros ranks second on the team in kills per set (2.36) this season and has handed out 318 assists. Diehl ranks fourth in kills per set (2.12) and second in digs per set (1.45). Sophomore Jefferson Waters is enjoying a solid season and leads the team in kills per set (2.57). Freshman Matt Usui leads the team in total digs (180), while sophomore Ryan Duchemin is the team leader in total blocks (91).

ON THE HORIZON
Daemen closes out its inaugural season by taking part in the Independent Volleyball Association Tournament next weekend (April 12-13) at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn.