ALBANY, N.Y. - The Colby-Sawyer men's volleyball team debuted for the 2023 season with a 3-2 (18-25, 15-25, 25-18, 27-25, 17-15) loss to Russell Sage College on Friday.

Rapid Recap:

• The Chargers jumped ahead by a 6-3 advantage behind a pair of service aces by sophomore Isaac Davies (Hinesburg, Vt.). The Gators responded to tie the game back at 7-7, but another 5-2 run by the Chargers capped off with another ace by Davies kept the visitors in front 9-7. Sage got back into it knotting the game at 12-12, but this time Colby-Sawyer powered past the opponents with a 8-2 surge to take a 20-14 lead. A pair of kills by junior Austin Ponsness (Queen Creek, Ariz.) kept the Chargers in front for good winning the first set 25-18. 
• Sage jumped ahead 5-2 in the second set, but a 6-0 counter by the Chargers sparked by a pair of aces by senior Phu Ngo (Everett, Mass.). Colby-Sawyer maintained the advantage using another 4-0 run to grow the lead to 17-10. The Gators battled back cutting the deficit to 19-14, but the Chargers closed strong with a 6-1 run finished off with a kill by Ponsness and Davies.
• The home team started off the third set 8-2 which was halted by three-straight points by the Chargers. The Gators continued to excel in the third set taking a commanding 20-9 lead. A 6-1 response proved to be too little to late as the Gators held on 25-18.
• Colby-Sawyer jumped ahead in set four by a 6-2 advantage off of two kills by Ponsness and a kill by Ngo. The Chargers continued to lead holding a 17-11 advantage, but an 8-2 run by the Gators tied the game at 19-19. After a pair of kills by Davies and another by Ngo the Chargers were just three points from sealing the victory, but Sage responded in a big way pulling out the 27-25 win. 
• In the final set the teams traded points until Colby-Sawyer sustained the first lead of the set with a 3-0 run with another spike from Ponsness to take a 9-7 lead. The Gators responded taking a 13-11 advantage but a kill and service ace by Ponsness had the Chargers and Gators knotted up again. With the game tied at 15-15, Sage put the game away with back-to-back kills to pick up the win.

Stats & Figures: 

• Ponsness led the offense with 18 kills on a .302 kill percentage. Davies contributed a new career-best 13 kills. Ngo followed with three kills. 
• First year CJ Murphy (Sudbury, Mass.) led the passing effort with 28 assists to go along with a pair of kills. 
• Murphy also led the defense with 12 digs, while Ponsness added four blocks.

Up Next: 
The Chargers will head to Boston for a tri-match against Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Wentworth Institute of Technology.

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