Lakers Split Matches at SUNY Jefferson Pod

WATERTOWN, N.Y. - The Finger Lakes Community College women's volleyball team split their matches at SUNY Jefferson on Saturday afternoon. The #4 Lakers first match of the day came up against the #14-ranked Fulton-Montgomery Community College Raiders. The team would follow the match with a rematch against the host Jefferson Cannoneers.

In the team's first match of the day, the two nationally ranked teams would put on a show. The Raiders would take sets one and two by 2 points before the Lakers rallied to take sets three and four by a combined 6 points. This would lead the team to a fifth and final set where the Raiders would complete the upset, 15-13 to hand the Lakers their first loss of the season.

Freshman Payton Stoddard (Bloomfield, N.Y./ Bloomfield) shined with an efficient .500 kill percentage while adding a whopping 49 assists. Furthermore, Stoddard would show her versatility at the service line with 6 aces and 11 digs on the defensive end. Sophomore Adriana Botello (Holley, N.Y./ Holley) displayed a strong defensive game with 14 digs in the match.

Freshman Kiane Wells (Webster, N.Y./ Webster Thomas) made her presence felt with 8 kills while adding 1 block solo and 1 block assist. Teammate Michelina Williams (Fairport, N.Y./ Fairport) displayed a strong effort at the service line with 4 aces. Williams went on to add a team-high 17 digs. Sophomore Brooke DeGroff (Castile, N.Y./ Letchworth) stood out in the match with a season-high 25 kills. DeGroff would round out her performance with a block solo and block assists to finish with 26.5 points in the match. Freshman Leah Williams (Olean, N.Y./ Olean) would round out the offensive attack with 13 kills, adding a block solo and block assist to culminate 14.5 points to her tally.

Despite dropping their first match of the season, the Lakers were determined to get back on track against the SUNY Jefferson Cannoneers. They would do just that, in yet another 5-set thriller that the Lakers would prevail in this time. 

Looking to run away with the match, the Lakers would take the first two sets before the Jefferson Cannoneers rallied to take sets three and four and force the fifth set. The Lakers would take the fifth set by a score of 15-11 to advance to 7-1 this season.

Freshman Payton Stoddard continued to excel as the team's primary playmaker with 43 assists. She would go on to add 3 aces at the service line and make her presence felt on defense with 7 digs. Teammate Adriana Botello once again made her presence felt on defense with 12 digs throughout the match.

Freshman Jordan Winton (Sherburne, N.Y./ Sherburne-Earlville) made an impact with 7 kills, 1 solo block and 2 block assists. Teammate Kiane Wells added 8 kills while Michelina Williams showcased a versatile performance with 1 kill, 2 aces, and a game-high 21 digs. Sophomore Brooke DeGroff was once more a standout player, leading the Lakers offense with 14 kills. She would go on to add 2 service aces and 17 digs in an impressive performance. Teammate Leah Williams rounded out the offense with 11 kills to go along with a 3 block assist effort on defense.

The Lakers will have roughly a week before their next match at Monroe Community College on Saturday, September 16th. The Lakers will play a pair of matches, first against the Niagara County Thunderwolves at 10 AM, followed by a match with the Erie Kats at 12 PM.