Dallas, PA - The Lakers return to action for day two of the Cougar Clash Tournament. After a challenging start against Misericordia and Hunter, Oswego bounces back and takes home the win for both of their matches with an impressive sweep of both Centenary University and Alfred University.
 
THE BASICS
Location: Anderson Center | Misericordia University | Dallas, PA
 
Game 1:
Oswego (8-7) 3
Centenary (3-14) 0
25-19, 25-9, 25-20
 
Game 2:
Oswego (9-7) 3
Alfred (8-3) 0
25-20, 25-15, 25-13
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1:
Oswego had a shaky start to the first set, with two attack errors and a kill from Centenary putting them behind 0-3. The Lakers quickly found their rhythm when Emily Zeiser secured their first point with a kill set up by Lilian Byrne. Though Centenary took the next point, Oswego responded with three consecutive kills – two from Priscilla McReynolds and one from Kalley Vugteveen – tying the score at 4-4. After trading points to a 6-6 tie, Oswego capitalized on Centenary's errors to take their first lead of the set, 14-9. Centenary tied the game again at 15-15, but Oswego's offensive firepower proved too much. Kalley Vugteveen added two more kills, and Mya Bush contributed another, pushing the score to 22-16. From there, Oswego maintained control and secured the set with a 25-19 win. 
 
Oswego carried their momentum into the second set, taking control right from the start with seven consecutive points. The run featured kills from Emily Zeisler and Grace Gdovin, along with a service ace by Mya Bush. The Lakers maintained a commanding lead, while the Cyclones struggled to keep pace. By the time the score reached 20-6 in Oswego's favor, it was clear that the set was slipping away for Centenary. Additional kills by Priscilla McReynolds, Kalley Vugteveen, and Madison Gordon extended the lead to 23-8, and Oswego comfortably closed out the set with a 25-9 victory.
 
The third set was much more competitive, with neither team able to establish more than a one-point lead up until a 9-9 tie. Oswego then sharpened their focus, pulling ahead 15-9 thanks to kills from Kalley Vugteveen, Cara Simplicio, and Gariella Bishop. The teams traded points, largely due to errors on both sides, but Oswego maintained their advantage. Additional kills from Gabriella Bishop, Kalley Vugteveen, and Gigi Basile pushed the score to 20-17, keeping the Lakers ahead. Despite continued back-and-forth play, Oswego wrapped up the set 25-20, completing the 3-0 sweep in their first match of the day.
 
Game Leaders:
The Lakers Showcased strong performances, with Priscilla McReynolds leading the way with 8 kills and Kalley Vugteveen with 7 kills. Mya Bush facilitated the offense with 14 assists, while CJ Eidem's defensive skills were highlighted by her 15 digs throughout the match.
 
Game 2:
The match began with a service error from the Alfred Saxons, giving the Lakers the upper hand right off the bat. Priscilla McReynolds earns Oswego their first three kills, all set up by Mya Bush, giving Oswego an early lead of 5-2. As the Saxons warmed up, they fought back to tie the game 5-5. The teams engaged in a series of long rallies, exchanging points until oswego held a narrow 14-13 advantage. From there, the Lakers built momentum, extending their lead to 20-14 with additional kills from Grace Gdovin and Emily Zeiser. Kalley Vugteveen capped off the set with a powerful kill, ending the first set at 25-20. 
 
In the second set, Alfred University came out strong earning the first three points. However, Oswego quickly responded with three consecutive points of their own, thanks to kills from Grace Gdovin and Priscilla McReynolds, tying the score at 3-3. As the set progressed, the Saxons fought back but struggled with mistakes that gifted the Lakers free points. The game remained competitive, with both teams putting up a strong offense and defense. After the score reached 6-6, Oswego began to pull away, building a lead through a mix of opponent errors and kills from all hitters on the court to put the Lakers ahead 18-11. CJ Eidem recorded her second service ace of the set, extending the score to 20-11. Although Alfred attempted to rally with two kills, they couldn't overcome the deficit as Oswego's Priscilla McReynolds and Kalley Vugteveen aggressively swung at the net for two more kills, bringing the score to 24-13. The Saxons fought hard, but ultimately, the Lakers claimed the set 25-15.
 
Oswego started the third set off strong, capitalizing on an attack error from Alfred for the first point. The score remained close, echoing the beginnings of the previous sets, but the Lakers soon gained momentum from three consecutive kills by Priscilla McReynolds, who had been a standout performer all day. CJ Eidem added to the scoreboard with another service ace, and Kalley Vugteveen continued to make her presence felt with additional kills, extending Oswego's lead to 7-3. The Saxons struggled to regain energy, making numerous mistakes, costing them crucial points. Vugteveen and McReynolds each added two more kills, set up by Mya Bush, who had been exceptional throughout the match, pushing the lead to 19-8. Although Alfred managed to chip away at the score, bringing it to 21-12, they couldn't withstand Oswego's offense. Vugteveen secured the set for the Lakers with two consecutive kills for a 25-13 win. This victory concluded the Lakers' play at the Cougar Clash with yet another impressive 3-0 sweep. 
 
Game leaders: 
Priscilla McReynolds led the way with an impressive 15 kills, while Grace Gdovin contributed with 10 kills. Mya Bush recorded a remarkable 33 assists to fuel Oswego's offense throughout the game. 
 
WHAT'S NEXT
The Lakers will enjoy a brief break before their next matchup, scheduled for 6:00 PM on October 4th. They will hit the road to face SUNY Cortland, kicking off their SUNYAC conference play for the season.
 
Written By: Jillian Kraus