The Geneseo volleyball team looks to finish SUNYAC play with a winning record when they face SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Oswego and SUNY Fredonia from Friday Oct. 23–Saturday Oct. 24. Geneseo has a 2-4 record in conference play; winning these three upcoming games could put them at 5-4 in the conference and should put them in fifth place upon the seasons’ end.
The Knights are coming off of a great weekend where they played at Elmira College on Friday Oct. 16 and finished 3-1. They went on to defeat Utica College, Wilkes College and Elmira College before falling to SUNY Canton on Saturday Oct. 17.
Geneseo junior outside hitter Tricia Baxley received the SUNYAC volleyball player of the week award, notching double-digit kills in all four matches—she averaged 3.79 kills per game and 1.86 digs per set. Baxley tied a career-high with 18 kills and hitting percentage of .378 in a four-set win over the Elmira Soaring Eagles. In the win over Wilkes, Baxley was credited with 10 kills and six digs in a 3-0 sweep. Baxley then contributed 11 kills and nine digs in the loss to Canton. Her performance was undeniably crucial in the Knights’ successes.
Despite these tremendous statistics, however, Baxley attributed her high level of play to the team dynamic. “This weekend was a good one for me,” she said. “I can easily attribute that to [freshman setter Emily Ast and senior setter Bethany VanDerMeid] for their phenomenal job this weekend. Their consistent setting and hard work made it easy for all offensive players to do our job and I am very grateful for that.”
With Geneseo coming down to the final stretch of the season, players like Baxley—as well as senior middle blockers Paige Pendleton and Paige O’Connor—will look to give this team a strong chance to compete for a spot in the SUNYAC Tournament. Geneseo will have tough contests when they face 4-2 Oswego and 2-4 Fredonia on Saturday Oct. 24. Both of these games will be deciding factors in the Knights’ success in their final games.
“If we continue to work hard in practice and buy into our coach’s winning mentality, I think we have a great shot of not only making and advancing in the SUNYAC Tournament, but being successful in them as well,” Baxley said.
The Knights have not been very successful in past years when it comes to postseason play, but with the leadership of the upperclassmen—combined with a new coach that is committed to taking this team into a deep playoff run—anything is possible. Geneseo can make immense strides when they are at the top of their game.
In addition to the will power to win by any means necessary, the dedication to improve on and off the court is what will propel this team to championship glory.