Lakers Start Strong, Defeat Two National Contenders
Poughkeepsie, N.Y. - Kicking off the 2023 season, the #7 ranked Finger Lakes Community College women's volleyball team showcased their prowess by winning back-to-back thrilling matches against two nationally ranked opponents at Dutchess Community College for the team's season opener.
Lakers vs. Monroe College – Bronx
To kick off the 2023 season, the #7 Lakers were put to the test with a nationally ranked match against the #9 Monroe College – Bronx Express. The matchup lived up to its lofty expectations as two of the top programs in the country battled for five sets.
The Lakers started out the match hot, going for 7 straight points in the 1st set and coasting to a 25-14 win. In set 2, the Express would push back holding the Lakers to a slim advantage midway through the set. However, the Lakers would pull away to earn a win in set 2, 25-18.
The Lakers looking to finish the match in straight sets but were met with opposition from the Express. In a back-and-forth 3rd set, the Lakers would hold a late lead, before the Express would rally to squeeze by with a 25-22 win. The Express would go on to take set 4 as well to force the 5th and final set of the match.
Despite allowing the Express to rally back, the Lakers showed they were the superior squad, dominating the deciding set, 15-4.
Payton Stoddard (Bloomfield, N.Y./ Bloomfield) stood out in her Lakers debut, helping direct the Lakers attack with 25 assists. Stoddard would finish with 6 digs and an ace to round out her day. Freshman teammate Jordan Winton (Sherburne, N.Y./Sherburne-Earlville) emerged as the Lakers leading attack with 11 kills. Winton was a force at the net, contributing 2 block assists to her total as well.
Freshman Kiane Wells (Webster, N.Y./ Webster Thomas) in 4 sets put her versatility on display with 2 kills, 2 assists, a block assist, and a dig. Freshman Michelina Williams (Fairport, N.Y./ Fairport) made her presence known in the back row with 11 digs to go along with an impressive 4 aces.
Sophomore Brooke DeGroff (Castile, N.Y./ Letchworth) was instrumental in the Lakers' win with 4 kills and 9 digs. DeGroff was dominant in her serve, racking up 6 aces to round out an impressive performance. Freshman Bridget Miller (Seneca Falls, N.Y./ Mynderse) stood tall at the front of the net with 9 kills and put an all-around effort on display chipping in 2 assists, 8 digs, and 4 aces to her final tally.
Molly Goulette (Newark, N.Y./ Newark) had a successful first game as a Laker, adding a kill, ace, and 2 digs to her total. Classmate Leah Williams (Olean, N.Y./ Olean) was a major contributor to the Lakers attack as she pitched in 7 kills and a block assist to help guide the Lakers over the nationally ranked Express.
Lakers vs. Dutchess Community College
After a big win in a thrilling five-set match against the Monroe College – Bronx Express, the Lakers faced their biggest test of the day against the #6 nationally ranked Falcons of Dutchess Community College.
The Falcons would start out strong, taking set 1, before the Lakers found their rhythm, taking 3 straight sets to complete the upset over the #6 Falcons.
Freshman Payton Stoddard continued to orchestrate the Lakers' attack in match two, recording 47 assists. Stoddard continued to impress, notching 5 aces on the serve and recording a block assist at the net. Sophomore Adriana Botello (Holley, N.Y./ Holley) played a productive 4 sets with 4 digs while making a significant impact at the service line with 4 aces.
Freshman Jordan Winton continued to make her presence felt at the net, adding 4 kills to her tally while teammate Kiane Wells dominated in the attack, with an impressive 6 kills on 15 attempts, good for a .400 kill percentage.
Michelina Williams was the anchor of the Lakers' defensive efforts, collecting 18 digs while also making her impact felt on the serve with 3 aces in the match. Sophomore Kierstin Comerford (Geneva, N.Y./ Geneva) served 2 aces while fellow sophomore Brooke DeGroff put her offensive prowess on display with 11 kills while remaining active on defense with 11 digs and 2 service aces.
Joining DeGroff as a three-headed monster on the attack were Bridget Miller who delivered 13 kills, 4 aces, and 6 digs, and Leah Williams who led the team's offensive charge with 14 kills, an ace, 3 digs, and a block assist.
With the sweep, the Lakers move to 2-0 to start the season and have their eyes set on their next match on their home court against Onondaga Community College next Tuesday, August 29th at 6 PM on the Putt Moore Court at FLCC.