The Oswego State volleyball team won and increased their winning streak with a sequence of two home games. The Lakers faced SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Plattsburgh in conference games.

The first game was the tighter of the two. The Lakers faced the Bears and won the match, playing five sets ending 3-2.

The game looked like it would be calm, with the Lakers dominating the first set, opening 6-2 early on. These points were achieved with much help from Kalley Vugteveen, who participated in five of the six scored. However, soon after, the Bears got closer to the score and surpassed the Lakers by 13-11. The home team needed to improve, and this improvement came with Grace Gdovin. Helping the team and increasing the lead to 19-14 heading towards the end of the set, which went to the Lakers with 25-20.

The second set also started calmly, with the Lakers opening up a big lead, the same 6-2 as in the first set, with Gdovin being crucial again. But the Bears reacted again and turned the game to 10-9. This turnaround didn’t last long, as the Lakers were quick to take a 16-12 lead and hold on to that score until the end of the set. With many attacking errors from the Bears and an extensive sequence of kills by the Lakers, the second set ended with a very different score of 25-17.

The third set could be decisive and guarantee victory for the Lakers, or the Bears could react and start the comeback away from home. The set started evenly, with the teams alternating who was ahead. Until the game tied at 10-10.  After that, the Lakers opened the most significant lead of the set, which was four points in a row, all with the participation of Madison Gordon. Once again, the Bears reacted and opened a big lead almost at the end of the set at 19-16. Alyssa Adams was crucial for the Bears by participating in six straight points. The set ended with the Bears taking an even bigger lead of 25-21

The fourth set was by far the closest of all, with neither team managing to take a lead greater than two points throughout. Several changes occurred in who was at the front, and the teams were tied 17 times during the set. It all ended with the Bears forcing the fifth set 26-24.

The fifth set was the most important. Whoever won would earn points that would help move up the SUNYAC table. Knowing this importance, the Lakers started well ahead, opening a 4-1 and then increasing the score to 9-5. Towards the end of the set, the Bears showed great reaction power and almost tied everything when it was 13-12 in favor of the Lakers. But the home team managed to hold on and win the match 15-12 with two attack errors from the Bears.

The Lakers completely dominated the second game. Being superior during all sets and winning 3-0. The first set started with the Lakers without falling behind on the scoreboard once. The Lakers opened up 7-0 right away. The Cardinals even tried to react, but the score only increased with an outstanding performance from Lauren Cropp. Towards the end of the set, the advantage reached 10 points, and the score was 19-9. The advantage was enough to end the game for the Lakers with a 25-16.

The second set looked like it would take a different direction. The Cardinals opened a 7-3 lead that soon became 13-5. But after a service error by the Cardinals, things changed. Mya Bush contributed seven consecutive points and got the Lakers 16-14. The set remained balanced until 21-20, after which the Lakers secured the victory at 25-20.

The third and final set was tight until the middle, with both teams opening small leads and tying things up at 14-14. Emily Zeisler was very important, contributing six consecutive points and helping the Lakers open up a 17-14 lead. The lead increased, and the game ended 25-19 for the Lakers, guaranteeing another victory for the sequence.

The Lakers will now go to the road to take on SUNY Oneonta on Oct. 25 and try to qualify for the playoffs.

Photo by: Oswego Athletics