Top 10 Moments of 2020-21: Men's Volleyball Completes Perfect Season

7/14/2021 11:15:00 AM

By: CONTACT: Mike Miranto, Sr. Associate A.D. for External Operations & Communications | (716) 839-8385 | mmiranto@daemen.edu

AMHERST, N.Y. - On Wednesdays and Fridays this summer, daemenwildcats.com will feature stories that look back upon the top 10 moments of the 2020-21 season. Record-setting performances, important wins and history-making achievements will be documented in the series.

THE MOMENT:
Men's Volleyball Completes Perfect Season

It wasn't necessarily the season that Don Gleason envisioned, but the head coach of the Daemen men's volleyball team ensured that his players were poised to make the most of every opportunity that was given to them in the year of COVID-19.

The team's never-take-anything-for-granted attitude was ever-present during their run to a perfect 10-0 season - the only NCAA Division I or II program to finish without a loss this season.

"The schedule has been pretty local, right? It's a lot of [Division] three teams that we've been playing in the New York area," Gleason said in late March as the Wildcats prepped for their final two matches of the season. "But, we said we were going to take advantage of the schedule we could put together. I think part of that is winning the games that you're supposed to and the guys have done a good job of that. We've been taking advantage of those reps."

The first weekend of April saw the Wildcats make their farthest trek of the season for perhaps their stiffest competition with back-to-back matches against St. Francis Brooklyn - the only Division I opponent on the docket. Despite experiencing travel issues that caused an hour long delay to the opening match April 2, the Wildcats showed little to no signs in stiffness and cruised to a 3-1 victory (25-15, 25-23, 21-25, 25-12), ensuring themselves a chance at perfection the following day.

The Terriers was poised to play the spoiler in the weekend finale, taking the first set 28-26. But, Daemen regrouped to take the next three (25-23, 25-14, 25-12), thanks in part to 17 kills by sophomore Zach Schneider (Lockport, N.Y.), 12 kills from senior Robert Patzer (Liverpool, N.Y.) and 43 assists from junior Michael Krueger (Canonsburg, Pa.).

The April 3 result capped a perfect season for a Wildcat program in just its third season of existence. Dating back to the 2020 season, the Wildcats have won 12 straight matches overall, as well as 19 of their last 21.

Schneider finished as the team leader in kills for the second straight year despite playing in only eight of 10 matches. He posted 83 kills this season and has totaled 179 over his two-year career. Patzer, who transferred to Daemen after playing three seasons at Wells College, finished second on the team in kills (81). Krueger led the team in assists for the third straight year. He totaled 237 this season and has racked up 1,360 assists over his three-year career. Sophomore Ryan Parker (Fairport, N.Y.) posted a team-high 55 digs this year, while classmate Jake Couzens (Hamburg, N.Y.) led the team in total blocks (31).

MORE COVERAGE
Full Game Recap

LOOK BACK - ADDITIONAL TOP 10 MOMENTS OF 2020-21

Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 18 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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