Currently sitting with a 6-10 record, the Oswego State volleyball team looks to turn their season around with big conference matches against rivals SUNY Oneonta on Oct. 15 and SUNY New Paltz on Oct. 16.

The Lakers seem to have hit a bump in the road with four straight losses in conference play. Despite the rough stretch, the Lakers still have an opportunity to get back on track with two potential conference wins coming up next weekend.

The ladder match against SUNY New Paltz is an important one, not only because it is a conference match, but it is also senior day for the Lakers. The team will be honoring seniors Skylar Bechard, Dana Carey and Madelyn Smith. Head coach Jefferson O’Connell believes that emotions will be running high for his seniors on Oct. 16.

“Senior day will be emotional for sure, we haven’t had one of these in a while,” O’Connell said. “New Paltz should be a really important match for us, so we will be ready.”

O’Connell also mentioned that he would like to have all three seniors start that night, but he added that it will depend on the outcome of the match on Friday when the Lakers take on SUNY Oneonta.

“I’d certainly like to honor Maddie Smith by starting her. Skylar and Dana are usually in our starting lineup,” O’Connell said. “If I have the opportunity to start Maddie, I will. Maddie is more than capable, honestly, she’s been playing great so we would be fine with her taking on the starting role.”

This group of seniors is fortunate enough to be able to have their senior day after losing the prior season to COVID-19. Freshman Cara Simplicio predicts that senior day will be extra emotional because of that.

“Our seniors did not have a whole four years to play, so this is their last chance to show what they’ve got,” Simplicio said. “I think everyone is looking forward to that.”

A bright spot this season has been the outstanding play from junior McKenna Corbin. Corbin currently leads the team in assists and service aces while having the second most digs. Bechard said she always enjoys playing with Corbin because she is always there when you need her. 

“I can always trust Mack to get the first ball or the second one, whatever I need from her, she’s always quick to communicate with me,” Bechard said. “She’s very easygoing. She’s a great teammate and a great person.”

It is clear that Corbin is a key contributor for the Lakers and her teammates and coaches are appreciative of her efforts. O’Connell has been more than happy with Corbin’s season so far but is not surprised to see her flourish into the player she has become.

“She’s just a great athlete, we could use her in more roles and she’d be fine with that,” O’Connell said. “She was a track star in high school, she really is a great player and a great leader too.”

After Wednesday’s match against Wells College, the Lakers will not have another until Oct. 15, against SUNY Oneonta. Having a nine day gap between games during a season is definitely an odd sight, but the Lakers believe that it will allow them to recharge and get them ready for their final nine matches.

“It will be good to have some recovery days, and especially for mental health, I think a lot of us have a lot going on,” Bechard said. “Midterms are coming up, so it’s good for us to take a step back and focus on our education and do some fun fall things.”

Having a long break can also help the body get rested and get back to full health. Injuries can be irritating to have, especially to play through, so the team looks forward to getting healthy before the final weeks of their season. 

“A lot of us have tiny, little injuries,” Simplicio said. “So I think it will be good to heal up a little bit and then go hard for our remaining matches.”

The break also allows the team to see their friends and family, which they do not get to do because of their busy schedules. Getting to take a mini-break from their usual routine should be fun and hopefully relaxing.

“It’s a good mental refresher, we’re at the halfway point where we could take a good weekend and just relax for a minute,” O’Connell said. “It gives us a full week to practice before our conference matches. I’ll go hiking and some of the girls are going to see friends and family, something we don’t normally get to do during the season.”

With the senior Lakers graduating after this season, O’Connell believes that his players are more than ready for what comes after school and volleyball. 

“All three of them are way smarter than I am, one’s a Bio major, the other is a Zoology major, and Maddie is in one of the new majors for arts,” O’Connell said. “So enjoy the ride and you’ll be fine.”

The Lakers believe that the upcoming conference matches will have more intensity than normal. They feel like it will be a great opportunity to come away with two victories against their rivals.

“It’s definitely more of a rivalry, in all terms,” Bechard said. “It’s go-time, we want to take every game seriously, no matter what.”

O’Connell has his team ready to roll here at the halfway point of their season. He feels like his team will be more than excited to take on their conference opponents.

“Oneonta has been one of our biggest rivals, they bring a lot of energy when they play and that energy can sometimes spill over,” O’Connell said. “It did on one of our senior days, so we’re going to be pumped up for the Friday match, the ‘battle of the O’s’.”

William Rogers | The Oswegonian