Rochester, NY - The Oswego State Lakers traveled to play a non-conference game against RIT. This would be the final Laker regular season game and Oswego looked to roll into playoffs off a win. The Lakers put up a strong defense, but ultimately fell short to the Tiger's aggressive offense in four sets.
THE BASICS
Location: Clark Gymnasium, RIT
Oswego (14-13, 5-4) 1
RIT (18-11, 4-4) 3
19-25, 25-21, 15-25, 16-25
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lakers opened the first set with a kill by Cara Simplicio, but the Tigers quickly responded, setting the tone for an intense showdown. Both teams showcased an aggressive offense, with Oswego's Emily Zeisler and Kalley Vugteveen adding kills, followed by Priscilla McReynolds, who delivered a kill and an ace to tie the score at 7-7. The back-and-forth battle continued, keeping the score close at 15-15 as neither team could secure a strong lead. A well-placed dump by Oswego's setter, Mya Bush, broke a brief RIT run, while Simplicio's kill brought the Lakers back to an 18-18 tie. However, RIT regained momentum, forcing an Oswego timeout at 18-21 following an ace. After the break, the Tigers extended their lead with consecutive kills. Despite Oswego's efforts, RIT ultimately took the set 25-19 after a final kill and that forced and Oswego error.
The second set began with the same intensity as the first, with the Tigers scoring the opening points through consecutive kills. The Lakers fought back with kills from Cara Simplicio, Priscilla McReynolds, and Emily Zeisler, along with a service ace from libero Lauren Cropp. Oswego's offensive push forced RIT to call a timeout at 6-4, but the Lakers returned with back-to-back kills by Kalley Vugteveen and McReynolds. As RIT tried to close the gap, Oswego's momentum surged, racking up four consecutive points to bring the score to 12-6. Errors from RIT's attack helped Oswego maintain their lead, and further kills from Simplicio and Zeisler pushed the score to 17-10. RIT adjusted defensively, setting up some offensive plays of their own, but Oswego held firm. Simplicio's kill brought the Lakers to game point at 24-15, but the Tigers mounted an impressive comeback, tallying five consecutive points—four from kills—prompting an Oswego timeout. The Lakers regrouped and closed out the set with a final kill by McReynolds, securing a 25-21 win.
The Tigers took early control in the third set, establishing a strong six-point, leaving Oswego to call a timeout with the score at 1-7. Returning to the court, the Lakers ramped up their offense, applying pressure that forced multiple errors from RIT. Taking advantage of these points, Oswego worked their way back into contention, closing the gap to 10-11. However, RIT regained their momentum and rebuilt their lead, pushing the score to 12-22 despite Oswego's determined play. Although Kalley Vugteveen and Priscilla McReynolds added kills to the Lakers' tally, the Tigers ultimately took the set 25-15.
The fourth set opened with a service ace from Mya Bush, but RIT quickly responded, building an early lead and pushing Oswego to call a timeout as the score reached 2-8. Priscilla McReynolds added two kills and Emily Zeisler contributed another, closing the gap to 7-11. However, the Tigers took back the serve and went on another scoring run that included multiple kills and an ace. Regaining control after a service error, the Lakers found opportunities in the middle of the court, where Bush scored twice, putting the score at 10-16. Yet RIT maintained their momentum, securing five consecutive points and extending their lead to 11-21. Although Oswego fought back with kills from Gigi Basile and McReynolds, the Tigers ultimately took the set 25-16, concluding the match.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Lakers will travel to New Paltz, NY on Tuesday, November 12, to play the SUNY New Paltz Hawks for the SUNYAC first round at 6:00 PM.
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