Over the weekend, the Oswego State volleyball team took second place in its home invitational as it defeated SUNY Canton, D’Youville on Friday, followed by a win against Elmira and a tough loss to St. Lawrence.
In the first game, Oswego got off to a slow start to Canton, as it only tallied seven kills in the opening set. The Lakers managed to adjust in the next three sets to win, as Melissa Lussier recorded nine kills and junior Shauna O’Flaherty had seven. The Lakers got a huge lift from their liberoes, as Rochester natives Jessica Long, who came off the bench, served four aces and freshman Skylar Bechard recorded five to go along with her 12 digs in the matchup. Oswego out-blocked Canton 12-5 with Alison Sullivan’s five blocks, as she made it look easy on the court.
“You try to read all the players on the court,” Sullivan said. “Since I’m the middle blocker, I have to know where all the players are. So I try to read the middle and outside and then I look at the setter’s approach. If she is bending a little then I can tell she is going to set it back.”
Serving was the key in the second set as Oswego had 18 aces as they cruised past D’Youville in three sets. Julia Flohr, Mira Legnon-Bozman and Lussier each recorded four. Junior Sarah Massie finished with six kills and Julia Pacitto had three kills on only four swings. Allison Berger came off the bench dished out 10 assists and a pair of aces in the match.
“When you have the opportunity to play on the court, your one of the best out there,” said Flohr. “When you know that our bench is deeper it just shows how well these ladies can play.”
In their third match of the Oswego State Tournament, the Lakers took down Elmira in four sets winning 20-25, 26-24, 25-23, and 25-10. Berger finished with 33 assists, dug eight balls, and recorded three aces in the contest. Lussier and Bozman had 13 and 10 kills, respectively. Bozman also led the defense with 24 digs. Ariana Wright added more damage in the Lakers win with eight digs and eight kills.
In their loss to the Saints of St. Lawrence in three sets, the Lakers had opportunities to take sets two and three but couldn’t hold on losing 22-25 and 23-25. Lauren Fie led the team in kills as she recorded 10 and Sarah Massie finished with eight. Three Lakers finished with double-digits digs with Shauna O’Flaherty preventing sixteen of them hitting the ground, Bozman recorded 13 and Long finished 12.
“We probably should’ve committed more blockers, said J.J. O’Connell. “They have some dynamic jumpers. “I probably would’ve committed a second blocker in there to try to take away and channel them into one half of the court.”
Seniors Alison Berger and Jessica Long were named to the All-Tournament team for their galactic play.
The Lakers get ready to start SUNYAC pool play this Friday as they travel to Potsdam and take on the Oneonta Red Dragons (5-7), the Geneseo Knights (7-5), followed by a meeting with the Potsdam Bears (4-7).
The Red Dragons lost in the first round to the Hawks of New Paltz in 4 sets. Geneseo made it all the way to the SUNYAC semifinals as they defeated the Cortland Red Dragons (3-0) and then lost to the Fredonia Blue Devils (3-0). Potsdam didn’t make it to the SUNYAC tournament as the Bears finished with a record of (12-18) including one win in the SUNYAC.
“I’m very confident with this team,” O’Connell said. “Were deep, we grind, we hustle, we fight, we don’t panic if we get down. There is no need for negative energy so I just tell my players and myself to stay positive.”
Photo by Maria Pericozzi | The Oswegonian
