Geoff Schneider

Wildcats Welcome Mavericks To Lumsden Gymnasium Tuesday

1/31/2022 3:00:00 PM

Match #6
Daemen Wildcats (3-2) vs. Medaille Mavericks (1-4, 0-0 AMCC)
Tuesday, Feb. 1 | 6 p.m. | Lumsden Gymnasium

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FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

1. HOME SWEET HOME
The Daemen men's volleyball team continues the longest homestand in program history when they welcome Western New York rival Medaille to Lumsden Gymnasium for a Tuesday night tussle. The Wildcats have won six of their last seven home matches dating back to March of 2020. Tuesday's match marks the fifth all-time meeting between the Wildcats and Mavericks but just the second on Daemen's home floor.

2. BATTLE FOR NY
Daemen made their 2022 home debut this past weekend when they co-hosted (with D'Youville) a four-team event dubbed the Battle for NY. The Wildcats split a pair of matches against NCAA Division I opponents, falling to St. Francis Brooklyn in a five-set thriller before knocking off LIU in a three-set sweep. Robert Patzer lit up the stat sheet in the two matches. He tallied 20 kills and 14 digs - both career-highs for his two years with the Wildcats - in the loss St. Francis Brooklyn. Against LIU, he switched to the setter position and tallied 34 assists. Juniors Jake Couzens and Zach Schneider were key contributors as well. Couzens put down a combined 21 kills, reaching double figures in both matches. Schneider, who is producing a team-high 3.39 kills per set this season, recorded 13 kills and 10 digs vs. St. Francis Brooklyn.

3. SIGNATURE WIN
Daemen picked up arguably the biggest win in program history earlier this season when they defeated Princeton in a five-set thriller. It marked the program's fourth win ever against a Division I opponent, but also their first against an EIVA member. The Wildcats powered down 57 kills and 10 service aces in the win. Zach Schneider led the way by posting a match-high 19 kills. Jake Couzens added 10 kills. The win capped a three-match road trip to open the 2022 season. The Wildcats picked up a win in their season opener, a 3-0 defeat of Division II independent American International, before suffering a five-set loss to EIVA member Sacred Heart.

4. GONE STREAKING
Led by fourth-year head coach Don Gleason, the Wildcats have hit their stride over the last few seasons. Dating back to early February 2020, Daemen has won 22 of their last 26 matches. The Wildcats are coming off a perfect 10-0 season in 2021 when they were the only NCAA Division I-II team to finish without a loss. The program holds an all-time record of 31-26. Daemen is ranked eighth in the Off The Block Division II Coaches Poll.

5. WHAT'S NEXT
This Wildcats' nine-match homestand continues this weekend when they welcome St. John Fisher to Lumsden Gymnasium for a Sunday matinee. The Wildcats swept two matches from the Cardinals last season, including a five-set thriller in Rochester.

MEDAILLE SCOUTING REPORT
The Medaille Mavericks are members of NCAA Division III competing in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. The Mavericks are led by head coach John Forman who is in his second season at the helm after previous stops at Rhode Island, Brown, Midwestern State and several stints overseas. In his first season with the Mavs, Forman led the team to a 6-3 record, including a 5-1 mark in AMCC play.

Western New York natives Chris Pauline, Jr. and Matt Dickerson headline the Mavericks' returning players. Pauline, Jr., a senior outside hitter, was a First Team All-AMCC selection last season when he averaged 3.32 kills per set (fifth best in the AMCC). He has yet to appear in a match this season. Dickerson, a Second Team All-AMCC selection, chipped in 1.76 kills and 0.56 service aces (second best in the AMCC) per set.

The Mavericks are off to a 1-4 start this season. They are coming off a 1-2 weekend at the Cougar Kickoff Classic hosted by Misericordia. After knocking off Wilkes in their tournament opener, Medaille suffered losses to Misericordia and Lancaster Bible. Dickerson and teammate Malachi Jackson were named to the All-Tournament Team. Jackson is averaging a team-high 2.94 kills per set with Dickerson chipping 2.12.

Eight of the Mavericks' 10 players hail from Western New York.

ALL-TIME SERIES: DAEMEN VS. MEDAILLE
Series Record: 4-0
At Daemen: 1-0
Current Streak: Won 4
Last Meeting: Daemen 3, Medaille 1 (25-16, 25-19, 24-26, 25-19) | Mar. 5, 2021 | at Buffalo, N.Y.

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