SCHENECTADY, NY - The Lakers traveled to Union College to play in the Crosstown Challenge for the weekend. The Lakers fought hard in a loss in the first game to the Garnet Chargers of Union. They then bounced back with a convincing win over the Bethany Bison. 
 
Game 1
Oswego 2 (5-2, 0-0 SUNYAC)
Union 3 (5-2, 0-0 Liberty League)
13-25, 25-22, 25-23, 15-25, 11-15
Viniar Athletic Center | Troy, NY 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Set
After falling behind 11-4 in the first set, the Lakers earned the serve off a Union service error and sent home two kills from Vugteveen and Dudzinski. A late service ace from McReynolds and a kill by Gdovin weren't enough to overcome the Union lead and the Lakers dropped the first set, 25-13. 

2nd Set
It was as even as it could get in the 2nd set of play. We sat squared at 13 until Oswego turned on the jets and started to pull away. The Lakers put together an extremely impressive 7-point run. Sophomore Gigi Basile had 2 kills on this run. Right after the Lakers had their run, the Garnet Chargers had a run of their own. They got right back into this as in the last 15 points, they outscored the Lakers 10-5. Thanks to kills by Priscilla McReynolds and Grace Gdovin, the Lakers tied the set series up, 1-1.

3rd Set
The third set was similar to the 2nd, very back and forth. Priscilla McReynolds continued her big game. Oswego was down 2, early and she tied things up at 6 when she got a block and then a kill right after. Union then went on a run of 3 and Oswego answered with a run of 4. Into the 20s, no one could pull away. A service error by Union finally ended this set, 25-23, and the Lakers took a 2-1 lead. 

4th Set
In the fourth set, Union jumped out to another significant lead, but their run was ended by a kill from Gigi Basile. The sequence repeated itself when Union scored 5 more points in a row and were stopped once again by a kill from Basile. The largest scoring streak for the Lakers came from a kill from Vugteveen and Gdovin followed by an error from Union. The Lakers battled late but fell in the fourth set 25-15.

5th Set
Both teams were fighting hard to close out this game. Oswego got out to an early lead and kept it for most of the set. Oswego was up 11-8 and after a kill by Union's Allie Kronenberg, it was her turn to serve. She went on a 6-point run to put this game away. The Garnet Chargers won the match 3 sets to 2. 
 
Game 2
BASICS 
Oswego 3 (6-2, 0-0 SUNYAC)
Bethany 1 (2-3, 0-0 PAC)
24-26, 25-19, 25-16, 25-15
Viniar Athletic Center | Troy, NY 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
1st Set 
The Lakers took off when Gabby Bishop went on a serve run of 4. She had a pair of aces on this run as well. Although they were getting back into it, the deficit was still large from the early run from the Bison. Later in the set, Oswego was holding their own trading points with Bethany but couldn't find another run to go on to take a lead. Lauren Cropp had 3 aces in a row to make this closer but ultimately the set ended in favor of the Bison, 26-24. 

2nd Set
Oswego, frustrated with the ending of set 1, got out to a big lead early in the 2nd. McReynolds had good serves that made the Bison's stumble. After being tied 4-4, the Lakers jumped out to a 10-4 lead and forced Bethany to regroup with a timeout. Oswego kept the pressure on, serving multiple aces. A couple kills by McReynolds and Kally Vugteveen gave the Lakers set point. They had 9 set points before a Vugteveen kill ended it. The Lakers tied the set series at 1. 
3rd Set
The Lakers started out the 3rd set firing in every way. Gigi Basile had 2 kills to sponsor Oswego's 7-1 run to put Bethany in a deficit. This lead stayed consistent for the Lakers as they kept playing good, fundamental volleyball. Oswego started to pull away even more and were up 20-13 and a win in the 3rd set was in near sight. Alaina Dudzinski had a kill followed by a Mya Bush ace and Dudzinski and Gdovin would finish it with a denial at the net. The Lakers found themselves up, 2-1 in the series.  

4th Set
The Bison opened with 3 quick attack errors. The Lakers capitalized on the sloppy play by Bethany and were leading 10-4 in the beginning of the 4th set. Again, the errors by Bethany would rack up and the lead for Oswego continued to grow. The Bison tried to save the game and force a 5th set, but a McReynolds kill and yet another error by Bethany would give the set and game to the Lakers. 

WHAT'S NEXT
The Lakers continue tourney weekend with an early game tomorrow. They face off against Russell Sage College at 10am. 
 
Luke Belanger's Player Of the Game - Kalley Vugteveen (23 Kills, 6 Blocks, 9 Digs)
 
Written by: Luke Belanger