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NEAC Co-Player of the Year Patzer Transferring To Daemen

Wildcats Add Accomplished Player To Roster

8/25/2020 3:30:00 PM

By: By Mike Miranto, Sr. Associate A.D. for External Operations & Communications
AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen College men's volleyball team has bolstered its roster with the addition of transfer student-athlete Robert Patzer (Liverpool, N.Y.) whose signing was announced today by head coach Don Gleason. Patzer, a 6-foot-6 opposite hitter, comes to Daemen after competing for three seasons at Wells College, one of the top NCAA Division III teams in the country. 

Patzer was among the best Division III players in the country during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. While leading the Express to an 18-4 record, Patzer averaged 3.33 kills per set en route to earning Co-Player of the Year honors in the North Eastern Athletic Conference. He ranked 40th among the national leaders in kills per set and was also named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-North Region Team. 

The year prior, Patzer was a First Team All-NEAC selection when he posted 407 kills in 37 matches (3.16 kills per set). He was named MVP of the NEAC tournament after leading Wells to their first conference title and NCAA tournament berth. In 87 career matches, Patzer has totaled 879 kills, 509 digs and 137 blocks.

"Rob is a versatile and high IQ player who knows how to score in a variety of ways," said Gleason. "He always seems to be one step ahead on the court and his experience will be a welcome addition to the Daemen gym."

Gleason got an up-close look at Patzer's ability as Daemen and Wells played five matches against one another in the last two seasons. Patzer put down a season-high 20 kills in Wells' five-set loss to Daemen last February 14. The teams met again for a doubleheader on February 29 with Patzer scoring 15 and 19 kills in a pair of 3-2 wins for the Express. 

Patzer, who will have two remaining seasons of eligibility, is a product of Cicero-North Syracuse High School where he earned First Team All-Central New York honors as a senior. He joins freshman Cameron Milligan (Pavilion, N.Y.) in Daemen's 2020 recruiting class. Milligan, a 6-foot-4 opposite/outside hitter from Pavilion Central High School, had his signing announced via social media last December.

The Daemen men's volleyball team, which competes as an independent member of NCAA Division II, is entering its third year of existence. The Wildcats posted a 12-7 overall record in 2020, doubling the win total from their inaugural season despite having the final 10 matches of the season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They'll return 13 of the 17 players on the team's 2020 roster, including All-Independent Team selections Zach Yerington (Hamburg, N.Y.) and Zach Schneider (Lockport, N.Y.). 

Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.
 
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