POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam volleyball team (4-9) fell 3-1 to Oswego State (11-5) and 3-0 to St. Lawrence University (7-8) as it hosted its tri-match on Tuesday night. In the other contest, the Saints outlasted the Lakers 3-2.
Against the Lakers in the opener, Potsdam went on an 11-1 run in set one to open up a 15-5 advantage en route to a 25-18 win. The Lakers edged set two 25-21 before taking sets three and four by 25-13 and 25-18 counts. Junior outside hitter
Stephanie Maddox (Anaheim, Calif./Cornelia Connelly) led the Bears with 10 kills, while sophomore utility player
Rachel Topf (Eagle River, Alaska/Chugiak) and senior outside hitter
Casey Chase (Central Square, N.Y./Paul V. Moore) had nine and six, respectively. Freshman setter
Brianna Rodda (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem East) had a game-high 29 assists to go with three aces and 13 digs. Junior libero
Sloane Campbell (Scotia, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) also had 13 digs and Maddox totaled 12. Oswego middle hitter Megan Russell (Wantagh, N.Y./Seaford) had 10 kills for the Lakers. Junior setter Lauren Edwards (Owego, N.Y./Owego) had 25 kills and senior libero Rachael Ruggaber (Liverpool, N.Y./Liverpool) posted a contest-best 19 digs.
In the middle contest, the Saints rallied past Oswego for the win (18-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-14, 15-9). SLU senior middle hitter Cristina Deschaine (Millbrook, N.Y./Millbrook) had a game-high 16 kills and sophomore outside hitter Masha Kolesnikova (Elma, N.Y./Nichols School) chipped in 11. Russell added another 12 to lead the Lakers. Sophomore setter Katie Kull (Victor, N.Y./Victor) posted 45 assists to Edwards' 26 for Oswego. Ruggaber had 17 digs for the Lakers to SLU senior defensive specialist Mariah Dignan's (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Connectquot) 15. Saints senior defensive specialist Marissa Turner (Pennellville, N.Y./John C. Birdlebough) finished with six aces.
The Bears closed the night with 27-25, 25-18 and 25-23 losses to the Saints. Maddox again paced Potsdam with eight kills, with Topf (5) and Chase (4) close behind. Rodda totaled 18 assists. Senior libero
Allie Romaniello (Selden, N.Y./Newfield) had a team-high 14 digs, with Rodda and Campbell compiling 10 and eight. SLU's Kolesnikova had a game-high 12 kills and Kull had 41 assists. Dignan racked up 30 digs.
The Bears open up SUNYAC play this weekend as they head to Buffalo State for conference pool play. Potsdam starts the weekend off with a 5 p.m. match against the host Bengals.
