Sage Drops Road Match at Mt. Ida in five-set battle
February 10, 2016

Sage Drops Road Match at Mt. Ida in five-set battle

Video Box Score

BOSTON – Ryan Guyton (Lockport, NY/Lockport) and Bailey Cecchi (Agawam, MA/Agawam) combined for 30 kills but it wouldn't be enough as the Mustangs of Mt. Ida topped the Gators 3-2 (25-19, 22-25, 25-20, 19-25, 15-10) in nonconference action on Wednesday night.

After going down 4-12 in the first set, the Gators went on a 9-3 run led by Chris MacArthur (Hillsdale, NY/Taconic Hills) with two kills to bring the score to 13-15 in favor of the Mustangs. Mt. Ida (2-6) went on a run of their own in response to go up 21-13, until Guyton started a 5-1 run off a kill from Casey Fitzpatrick (Haverhill, MA/Haverhill) to come back within four points. However, Mt. Ida finished the match off a kill from Nate Gyampo a few serves later to go up 25-19.

With the score tied at 10-10 in the second set, Sage (3-9) went on a 7-4 run led by Cecchi to go up 17-14. The Gators continued to score, and tied the game 1-1 after winning the second set 25-22 off a kill from Cecchi.

After back-and-forth action in the third set left the score tied 12-12, Mt. Ida went up on 19-14 after multiple errors by the Gators. Gutyton started a 4-0 off a kill from Fitzpatrick, but the Mustangs went on to win set three 25-20.

Both sides went back and forth in set four until Sage went on a 6-1 lead led by Cecchi to go up 19-16. After a kill by Fitzpatrick and an attack error by the Mustangs, the Gators tied up the game 2-2 with a 25-19 victory in the second set.

The fifth and final match started out neck-in-neck with both sides tied 4-4 in the final set. Mt. Ida went on a 3-0 run until a kill from Cecchi brought the Gators back within two with a 7-5 score. The Mustangs's Gyampo started a 4-1 run for Mt. Ida that put them up 12-7. The Gators recorded three points, but it wouldn't be enough as the Mustangs went on to win the game 3-2 with a 15-10 victory in the last set.

Gutyon led the Gators on offense with 21.0 points, 16 kills, 11 digs and four service aces. Cecchi followed him with 16 points, 14 kills, five digs and two block assists. Fitzpatrick led in assists with a season high 38. On defense, Austin Laverty (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) recorded 2.5 blocks with Melvin Tajada (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) finishing with eight digs.

Mt. Ida's James Ames finished with a game high 17 kills while Jimmy Wessel recorded 21 assists.

Sage hosts its first Skyline event on Saturday as it takes onRamapo College at 11 a.m. and Purchase College at 3 p.m.