Cortland, NY – The Oswego State Lakers took to the road to play SUNY Cortland for their first SUNYAC match of the season. The Lakers put up a tough fight, but ultimately fell to the Red Dragons in three sets.

THE BASICS

Location: Whitney T. Cory '43 Gymnasium | SUNY Cortland | Cortland, NY

Oswego (10-8, 0-1) 0

Cortland (11-5, 1-0) 3

10-25, 19-25, 12-25

HOW IT HAPPENED

Cortland started the first set off with a service ace, but Oswego quickly responded. With kills from Priscilla McReynolds and Emily Zeiser, followed by a Cortland attack error, put the score at 3-1, Oswego. However, the Red Dragons rallied, launching a powerful six-point run that was only interrupted by a service error. The teams exchanged points, with Kalley Vugteveen adding a kill for the Lakers to make it 5-8. Despite Oswego's efforts to pick up Cortland's strategically placed hits and tips, they struggled to run plays of their own, allowing the Red Dragons to extend their lead to 19-8. After calling their second timeout of the set, the Lakers adjusted, and continued to fight, but ultimately fell 10-25.

In the second set, the score remained much closer at the start as Oswego began to adjust to Cortland's offense and set up some hits of their own. Kills from Priscilla McReynolds, Grace Gdovin, and Kalley Vugteveen narrowed the score to 6-8. However, the Red Dragons found their spark again, pulling ahead of the Lakers. After a service error, McReynolds recorded another kill, followed by a service ace from Madison Gordon to bring Oswego to 10-15. The teams exchanged points as Lauren Cropp contributed a kill and Mcreynolds added two more, set up by Mya Bush, closing the gap to 13-17. Cortland responded with three consecutive kills, this was only stifled by Kalley Vugteveen who answered back with an aggressive swing at the net, making it 14-20. Oswego continued to pressure the Red Dragons, capitalizing on their mistakes to gain free points. A kill from Cara Simplicio brought the score to 19-23, but Cortland had the answers as they were able to respond and Oswego lost the second set 19-25.

At the beginning of the third set, both teams displayed aggressive play at the net, primarily scoring points through kills. Priscilla McReynolds and Cara Simplicio each recorded two kills, along with one from Kalley Vugteveen, bringing the score to 5-6. Despite this, Cortland mirrors their play from the first two sets and goes on a streak, racking up seven consecutive points. Oswego calls a timeout, and upon returning to the court, setter Mya Bush notched a kill to make it 6-13. Cortland quickly responded with another run, this time four points that gets briefly interrupted by kills from Oswego's Gabriella Bishop and McReynolds. The Red Dragons then continued their momentum, pushing the score to 8-18. After Cortland gained two more points, Oswego called their second timeout at 8-20. The Lakers managed a kill from Emily Zeiser, bringing the score to 9-22, and then fought back with three consecutive points, but ultimately fell short, losing the set 12-25.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Oswego Lakers are on the road again tomorrow to play SUNY Morrisville at 1:00 PM for their second SUNYAC game of the season.