The Oswego State volleyball team has been on fire as of late, winning 12 of their past 15 matches including a current eight-game win streak. The Lakers took on Nazareth College on Sept. 28, and won three of four sets to secure their eighth win in a row. This was a team that started the season losing their first three games and now holds a prominent 12-6 record.

    The Lakers have already matched their 2021 season win total in just 18 games so far, and have more conference victories than they did a year ago. Many players on the team have taken giant leaps this season, which is even more impressive with a change in coaching over the offseason. In many instances, teams normally have a rough first year under a new coach, the reason for this is that players are used to the routine that their former coach had set for them, and a new coach almost always changes that routine. That has not been the case so far,  first-year head coach Toby Rens has turned things around in a hurry and morphed his team into SUNYAC contenders after they finished under .500 last season.

    The adjustment that the team has made this season has been arguably the biggest reason why they have performed so well. Rens gives his players credit for being able to make those adjustments and praised them for their turnaround this season. The Lakers have improved their play without a doubt, and Rens believes that this is because they have made a change to their pace of play compared to past years.

    “The biggest thing is, I have to compliment the players on changing and doing some things differently than they have been doing in the past,” Rens said. “Largely I think it is our style of play, speeding things up and with a little bit of a learning curve at the beginning, growing pains if you will, I am just pleased with the team because they come into every week trying to get better.”

    Production from the Lakers underclassmen this year has been noteworthy. Normally a team thrives off of its seniors and juniors, but not for Oswego State. Players like Cara Simplicio and Emily Zeisler, two underclassmen with others playing big roles too, have been anchors for this team which has been one of the best teams in the SUNYAC over the past three weeks. Rens said that the leadership of his seniors has played a major role in the impetuous impact of the underclassmen this season. 

    “I think right now we have got great senior leadership and we have three senior captains, I think they have done a very good job of setting the tone in practice,” Rens said. “It then allows everyone else to follow suit and fall into place. I think some of the younger players are talented, and they are taking note of that. I think we have a pretty accepting environment, everyone has a voice.”

    Oswego State is not Rens’ first rodeo in the coaching business, he has coached at seven different schools which include his most recent stop where he was the head coach at Div. I Georgetown. Environment changes can be tough, even for players or coaches who have been to multiple different places, whether it is adjusting to a living situation or having players adjust to a different coaching style. Rens emphasized how having players buy into a new way of getting things done makes the adjustment easier, and understands how it could be difficult for the players after saying goodbye to former head coach J.J. O’Connell.

    “As a coach, you have to have players that are willing to buy in, and I think my predecessor J.J. O’Connell was doing a great job and he was very well-liked by the players,” Rens said. “But I am different, and I think that sets a little bit of a feeling out process where they are trying to get used to me and what to expect every day. I am very pleased with my players because they have been open to that.”

    The Lakers have been one of the better teams in the SUNYAC and only trail SUNY Cortland by one game, the same team who dealt Oswego State their most recent loss. The standings are tight, so taking a look at them constantly is understandable even though it is still early and has multiple conference games remaining on their schedule. Rens does not think that where his team is ranked matters too much as of right now, but he is sure that some of his players check the standings quite often.

     “I know some of the players check the schedule, it means a lot to them and it does to me as well, but I couldn’t even tell you who is in first right now,” Rens said. “For me, I am just all about trying to get better every day and that is what experience has done for me. It is much more about us trying to go to the gym on our side of the net and prepare for our competition instead of worrying about our competition.”

    The Lakers have been dominant at home this season, winning all six matches they have had so far in Max Ziel Gymnasium. Certain players feel more comfortable when playing at home, which leads to better performance. Rens believes his players take pride in defending their home court when opponents come to play his team at home.

    “There is certainly a sense of comfort playing at home, for returning players especially. There is a sense of routine,” Rens said. “I think there is a great deal of pride, we talk about defending our home court often and how nobody is going to walk in here and come away with an easy win.”

      The Lakers will look to extend their eight-game win streak against conference rival Buffalo State at home tonight, Sept. 30, at 6 p.m. in Max Ziel Gymnasium.

Photo via Jim Gemza