The Geneseo volleyball team had a weekend worth celebrating at Maxcy Hall at the SUNY Potsdam campus. With a 3-0 record on the weekend, the Knights took down SUNY Potsdam on Friday Sept. 21 and SUNY Oswego and SUNY Oneonta on Saturday Sept. 22.
The Knights swept the Potsdam Bears with scores of 26-24, 25-11 and 25-13. Junior outside hitter Grace Cergol had a team high of 13 kills and dove for eight digs and junior libero Sam Mendelsohn had 10 digs. Sophomore middle block Kiersten Colvin contributed her own four kills and two digs. In her comeback game, senior setter Emily Ast came up big with a double double with 31 assists and 11 digs.
After their game on Friday, the Knights were ready for another competitive day on Saturday against the Oswego Lakers. With scores of 25-20, 25-22 and 25-17 the Knights took the win and improved their weekend record to 2-0. Ast set up 34 assists, dove for eight digs and served a team high of three aces while Cergol came just short of a double double with 17 kills and nine digs.
Still not ready to go home, the Knights stayed strong and muscled through five games against the Oneonta Red Dragons after their game against the Lakers. Taking the match after game scores of 25-10, 22-25, 25-21, 23-25 and 15-8, the Knights ended the first weekend of SUNYAC pool play undefeated.
Against Oneonta, Ast scored a double double with 50 assists, 11 digs and five kills. Outside hitter Abby May had seven kills, five digs and a team high of five aces. Cergol stacked the stat sheet with a team high 19 kills, two assists, three aces and six digs. Sophomore outside hitter Gabrielle Ayzenberg contributed seven digs and two aces. Mendelsohn had a team high 27 digs and four aces.
“Although we strive to play all matches at our highest competitive level and ability, there is, for certain, an increase in positive energy and drive to win when it comes to SUNYAC pool play,” May said. “We know the other teams in our conference are watching us to see what we can achieve this year.”
The Knights certainly made a statement to the rest of the SUNYAC this weekend and May attributes their success to team chemistry and their desire to succeed.
“We consistently set each other up for success in order to achieve team success,” May said.
The Knights take on the SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles on Oct. 5 at SUNY Buffalo State.
“Both teams are going to be out to prove themselves,” Ayzenberg said. “I would expect a super-fast paced, high intensity game the whole time. The game should be really exciting and fun for both teams and I know that we are pumped and ready for it.”
The Knights are currently tied with SUNY New Paltz for first place in SUNYAC standings with a 3-0 SUNYAC record.