POTSDAM, N.Y.—The SUNY Potsdam women's volleyball team (14-9, 4-5 SUNYAC) has earned the sixth seed in the SUNYAC Tournament. Tuesday night the Bears head to third-seeded Morrisville State (14-11, 7-2) for their first round meeting at 6 p.m.
Senior captain
Megan Henry (Candor, N.Y./Candor) has had a career year, leading the team in both kills (270) and digs (257). She's also compiled 25 service aces, 40 assists and 18 blocks. Senior outside hitter
Alyssa Adams (Jamestown, N.Y./Randolph) has further established herself as a threat with 258 kills, 251 digs, 42 aces and 37 blocks. Sophomore outside hitter
Emily Prest (Averill Park, N.Y./Averill Park) improved on strong freshman numbers in her second season. She compiled 169 kills, 190 digs, 34 aces, 17 assists and nine blocks. Junior captain
Sophia Layer (Potsdam, N.Y./Potsdam) has been consistently good all season, recording a career-high 605 assists along with a team-leading 191 digs, 58 kills, 45 aces and 10 blocks. Senior middle hitter
Lexi Price (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) contributed 63 kills, 35 digs, 13 aces and 27 blocks. Senior captain
Santara Hart (Meridian, Idaho/Meridian) finished the regular season with 53 kills and 22 blocks.
A trio of setters have given the Bears strong play behind Layer. Sophomore
Gabriella Luna (Schnectady, N.Y./Mekeel Christian Academy) had 64 assists along with 37 digs and 19 aces. Freshman
Meredith Harnden (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) totaled 45 assists, 12 kills and 10 digs. Sophomore
Rachel Madore (Peru, N.Y./Peru) had 210 digs, 38 assists and 23 aces.
Senior libero
Morgan Buckley (Third Lake, Ill./Grayslake North) had 79 digs and 12 assists. Senior middle hitter
Marissa Wagoner (Clifton Park, N.Y./Shenendehowa) chipped in 17 kills, 24 digs and 16 blocks. Sophomore libero
Madison Gilliland (Rossville, Ga./Lakeview Fort Oglethorpe) and sophomore middle hitter
Jacqueline Fornabia (Gansevoort, N.Y./Saratoga Central Catholic) gave the Bears quality play at some key moments as well.
Morrisville ranks fourth as a team in the conference in most major categories including kills (1066), assists (965), aces (222) and blocks (129). The Mustangs' statistical leaders have put up impressive numbers. Emily Huppee leads Morrisville and the SUNYAC with 485 kills, 52 service aces, 218 digs and 33 blocks. Kayci Olson had 257 kills, 84 digs and 18 blocks. Samantha Siedlecki totaled 96 kills, 644 assists and 62 blocks. Casandra Bellmore is second in the SUNYAC with 644 assists to go with 96 kills, 41 aces 171 digs and 35 blocks. Samantha Mehler had 162 assists, 21 kills, 75 digs and eight blocks. Kayla Sheasby is second in the SUNYAC with 391 digs. Kylie Hutchinson had 275 digs, 42 aces and 33 assists.
The Mustangs won the only meeting between the teams this season, 3-1 (23-25, 26-24, 24-26, 16-25) on October 11. Olson had 22 kills and Huppee had 20 kills and 14 digs to pace Morrisville. Bellmore added 42 assists and 12 digs. Henry led the Bears with 11 kills, 15 digs and five assists. Price and Prest each had seven kills to go with Prest's 17 digs. Luna posted 19 assists and Madore had 13 digs.
The winner of the contest travels to No. 2 Buffalo State this Friday, November 15.
