Lakers Earn Trip to National Tournanment
SANBORN, N.Y. - The FInger Lakes Community College Women's Volleyball team competed in the National Junior College Athletic Association, Region III, North A District Championship Sunday, Oct. 31st in a match against the Raiders of Fulton-Montgomery Community College. The Lakers pulled away, winning 3 sets to 1 on the day.
The Lakers battled in the series, pulling away in the first set, setting the tone with a 25-6 victory. However, the Raiders found their footing, battling back in the second set, seeing the Lakers fall 25-16. The Lakers went into an important third set, tied 1-1 with the Raiders.
The Lakers rebounded in the third set, winning 25-21, pulling ahead 2-1 in the best-of-five series. The Raiders were not letting up, taking a commanding 21-16 lead in the fourth set, but the Lakers had other plans. The team rallied back, down 24-18 at one point in the match, as the Lakers fought off the game point 7 times. Freshman Caitlynne Marczyk (Hemlock, N.Y./ Livonia) served points 19-25 to give the Lakers a 25-24 lead and an eventual 27-25 victory over the Raiders.
In the match, the Lakers were led by Sophomore Brandy Morrison (Macedon, N.Y./ Palmyra-Macedon) accounted for 23.5 points and adding 23 kills, 4 digs, 1 block solo and 1 block assist. Freshman Emma Sipos (Canandaigua, N.Y./ Canandaigua) stared in the tournament, adding 15 digs, 29 digs, 4 aces and 1 assist.
Freshman Oona O'Brien (Canandaigua, N.Y./ Canandaigua) had a big day, adding 10 kills, 7 digs, 1 assist and 2 block assists. Freshman Jenna Wallace (Baldwinsville, N.Y./ Baldwinsville) was a consistent contributor, adding 2 kills, 18 digs, 46 assists, 2 aces and 3 block assists.
Student-athlete's Oona O'Brien, Emma Sipos and Jenna Wallace earned Region III, Division III, All-Tournament Selections for their stellar play in the tournament. Sophomore Brandy Morrison earned Region III, Division III, All-Tournament Most Valuable Player for her dominant showing in the championship event.
With the comeback victory in the fourth set, the Lakers are your NJCAA, Region III, Division III, North A District Champions. With the win, the Lakers earn a spot in the NJCAA National Tournament which will be held in Rochester, Minnesota. This is the first trip to the National Tournament in Finger Lakes Community College Women's Volleyball history and the programs first-ever Region III Championship. In the Lakers series, the team cemented themselves as a strong, resilient and dangerous squad, heading into the tournament with high hopes.