The Oswego State volleyball team is proving to be a force in the SUNYAC conference after struggling versus conference opponents in 2021.

 Last season, the Lakers finished 1-8 in conference matches and finished with a 12-14 record. Under the guidance of new head coach Toby Rens, the Lakers have already blown past both their conference and overall win totals from last year. With seven matches remaining this season, the Lakers sit at an astounding 15-6, stemming from their 11-game winning streak and are 4-1 in conference matches.

 Rens knew that he had talent on his roster when he joined the team, he just needed to unlock it to bring about the success that they have had this year.

 “I feel like the pieces of the puzzle were there when I arrived,” Rens said. “The players were returning with good experience and good training and coaching.”

 Rens also said that he put some players in different positions in hopes that it would give them a new challenge, and maybe they would find a spot that is more comfortable for them.

 Rens believes that his team’s confidence in themselves has been a huge factor in their success, but also feels they need to stay level in order to continue to play as well as they have.

 “I think the confidence is good,” Rens said. “But I think I keep them grounded because there is always something we can work on.”

 Rens also has aspects of the team’s game other than the mental side that he feels still need to be worked on as the season heads towards its final stretch. Rens wants his team to stay hungry and always look to improve in all areas of the game.

 “Our defense is something I really wanted to focus on at this point in the season,” Rens said. “We have worked really hard on changing the offense’s style of play and a faster system, I think we have made some really good changes.”

 The Lakers struggled last year at home, finishing under .500 at 4-6. This year, they have been unstoppable at home, boasting a perfect 9-0 record.

 “There are comforts at home, everything is familiar and you’re not walking into a completely strange environment,” Rens said. “But I think there are also distractions at home. Family, friends could be visiting and be in the stands, but I think we have handled those [distractions] well.”

 Of the Lakers last six games of the season, only one is a home game. So Rens hopes his team can continue their home hot streak back on the road.

 The Lakers have had a lot of success on the court, putting up solid numbers in every category from attack to blocking. Compared to their opponents, the Lakers have had 842 kills compared to their opponents 696. The team has also committed less errors at 322 compared to the 427 errors their opponents have committed. Oswego has also been strong at the net, racking up 149.5 blocks so far this season, outscoring their opponents by just over 60 blocks with other teams tallying 87 blocks against the Lakers.

 McKenna Corbin, a senior on the Lakers roster, has put up staggering numbers with her assist totals almost outscoring every single one of their opponents. On the season, Corbin has 554 of the team’s 754 assists, and opponents only have 621 assists against the Lakers so far this season. Rens is glad that his players have bought into the new system that was introduced this season because he said that for many it is a very uncomfortable process to go through.

 “When pushing people out of their comfort zone, they can resist it a lot,” Rens said. “It’s uncomfortable at first but then they see the progress and the change, almost like an ‘a-ha’ moment.”

 Rens has seen results from his new system, as his team has gotten more comfortable with it, the wins continue to pile up. After defeating Wells College in three sets on Oct. 5, the Lakers have won nine straight sets and have gone 33-5 in sets during their 11-game winning streak.

 The Lakers will look to keep their streak alive on Oct. 7 when they face SUNYAC rival SUNY Brockport.

Photo provided by Jim Gemza