Three Saratoga Brothers Playing Together on One College Volleyball Team
SARATOGA SPRINGS — At SUNY Potsdam, one name dominates the men’s volleyball roster: Kilinski.
Brothers and Saratoga Springs High School grads Matt, Mike, and Brayden Kilinski all play for the Division 3 Potsdam Bears.
Matt is a middle hitter and graduate student competing with the Bears for his fourth season. Mike, a middle hitter senior, is in the midst of his second season at Potsdam after transferring from New Paltz. Brayden, a freshman right side/outside hitter, made his debut this year. Matt and Mike both tower above many competitors at 6’ 7”, and all three bros are poised to make significant contributions to their squad this year.
In a victorious 3-1 season opener against Regis College on Jan. 24, Matt recorded 24 kills, falling just short of his career high, and added 10 digs and 2 blocks while hitting .514. Brayden’s Bears debut included 9 kills and 2 aces. Mike recorded a match-best 5 blocks.
In a 3-1 loss to Buffalo State on the same day, Matt finished with a match-high 21 kills and 7 digs, while Mike contributed 9 kills and 1 block.
Although the season just began, Matt has already received the accolade of SUNY Potsdam’s Athlete of the Week for the week ending Jan. 24.
Potsdam’s men’s volleyball team launched their sixth season last weekend after concluding their best campaign in program history last year, when they finished with program records in overall and conference wins (18-8, 5-1), and wrapped up the regular season on a 12-match win streak to claim the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
Matt earned the 2025 New England Volleyball Conference (NEVC) Athlete of the Year Award, and he was also named first team All-NEVC. He led his team with 249 total kills. He also garnered 23 blocks, 20 service aces, and 126 digs. He is currently the school’s all-time record holder for career solo blocks, block assists, and total blocks.
Mike, in his first season with the Bears, led the conference and set the program’s single-season record with a .380 hitting percentage. He also ranked third on the team with 134 kills, and second with 48 blocks.
After graduating from Saratoga Springs High School last year, Brayden decided to join his brothers in Potsdam, adding a third member to the team’s sibling faction.
Next up for the trio: three games at home on Feb. 7 against Bard, Houghton, and Elmira.