SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — The Oswego State Women's Volleyball team collected their first win of the season from a 5 set thriller, finishing off the Skidmore Tournament on a positive note prior to the Oswego State Invitational.
The Basics -
Final
Oswego: 0 (0-4, 0-0 SUNYAC)
Middlebury: 3 (7-1, 0-0 NESCAC)
Location: Saratoga Springs, N.Y. | Williamson Sports Center
How it Happened
In their match against Middlebury, SUNY Oswego fell short, losing 3-0 with set scores of 15-25, 19-25, 18-25. The Lakers managed a total of 31 kills but hit only .161 as Middlebury excelled with 42 kills and a .284 hitting percentage along with 12 service aces.The Lakers initially led 6-4 in the first set, but Middlebury responded with a six-point run to take the lead. Despite a comeback attempt with kills from McReynolds and a CJ Eidem ace, Middlebury ended the set with a final push, winning 25-15. Middlebury's early dominance continued into the second set, leading 7-3. Although SUNY Oswego trimmed the margin to 11-8 with an Alaina Dudzinski kill and a Sabine Smithwick ace, Middlebury maintained control and closed the set at 25-19.
The final set saw the Lakers briefly leading 5-1 before Middlebury turned the tide, scoring eight straight points to take a commanding 20-13 lead. Despite McReynolds helping the Lakers close the gap, Middlebury sealed the set at 25-18.
The Basics -
Final
Oswego: 3 (1-5, 0-0 SUNYAC)
Skidmore: 2 (5-3, 0-0 Liberty League)
Location: Saratoga Springs, N.Y. | Williamson Sports Center
How it Happened
Piper Adams and Gigi Basile put down early kills off Mya Bush assists, while Skidmore answered through Cece Kilroy and Katy O'Connell as the teams traded sideouts. SUNY Oswego added points in the middle of the set from Priscilla McReynolds, Alaina Dudzinski, and a Bush service ace, with Skidmore getting several responses from Kilroy and Chloe Heitman. Late in the set, Adams and McReynolds continued to finish Bush sets, and the Lakers closed the 25-18 win on a Dudzinski kill and a Bush kill. In the second set, Adams opened with a kill from Bush, but Skidmore quickly surged ahead with Catriona Hoelperl's serve, gaining a 7-1 lead. Despite SUNY Oswego's efforts to cut into the deficit with multiple kills, Athena Braverman served three straight aces to push Skidmore's lead to 20-14. The Lakers tied the set at 23-23, but Chloe Heitman's service ace and a critical kill closed Skidmore's 30-28 win. A Basile-Nelson block and back-to-back McReynolds kills from Bush helped SUNY Oswego control the opening stretch of the third set, eventually winning it 25-23. In the fourth set, SUNY Oswego struggled as Skidmore dominated and took the set 25-15. The decisive fifth set saw Skidmore create an early separation with service aces, but the Lakers rallied behind strong plays from McReynolds and late kills from Dudzinski and Chloe Arnaiz, closing the match 15-10.
SUNY Oswego's overall record now stands at 1-5, while Middlebury improves to 7-1, and Skidmore moves to 5-3 overall.
What's Next
Up next, the Lakers will face Alfred University for the first match of the Oswego Invitational on September 18th, which is set to get underway at 3:00 PM.
