JOHNSTOWN – The Lady Raiders built early leads in the first two sets, but the defending conference and regional champions from SUNY Adirondack won the Wednesday night match in straight sets.
First Set
A kill shot by Whitney Ostrander knotted the score at 2-2, and then FM took the lead. Katlyn Pierce added a kill, and FM led 5-3. Zara Hyde and Kaylee Robinson teamed up for a sweet block, and the home side's lead was 7-4.
Photo: Whitney Ostrander sends a kill into the Adirondack court early in the first set
Adirondack closed to 7-6, but another Pierce kill kept FM in front. The large home crowd was enjoying the Lady Raiders' performance. Elizabeth Hayward made a great dig that led to another FM point. The scrappy Raiders soon took a 12-7 lead thanks to another Ostrander block. FM looked to be controlling the set for those first 19 points. But then the talented Timberwolves started clawing their way back.
The T-Wolves won a point, making the score 12-8, and then went on an impressive scoring run. They had taken the lead at 13-12 when Hyde spiked a set by Hayward to tie the score. The contest was still tied, at 14-all, when the visitors went on another scoring run. Soon the score was 21-15, and FM was running out of opportunities. The set ended 25-18, Adirondack.
Photo: Zara Hyde's kill closed the score to 22-18
Second Set
Again the Lady Raiders enjoyed early success. An Ostrander kill, a great save by Kaylee Gillen, a Pierce kill and a deft dink shot by Pierce gave FM a 7-3 lead. The visitors tied things at 8-8. A key save by Karissa Morey led to FM winning the next point, but that 9-8 score turned out to be FM's final lead of the match.
Adirondack put on a grand display of blocks, saves, and digs. They scored seven unanswered points and led 20-14. The T-Wolves also made very few unforced errors. A nice save by Morey helped FM score their final point. Adirondack won the set 25-16.
Third Set
The Raiders continued to show that they have considerable talent, but the Timberwolves' composure and remarkable defense kept them in control of the set. Further, injuries slowed down FM's Hyde and Gillen, but they continued to contribute. The final score was 25-10, Adirondack.
The Match
This match was a classic case of the contest being much closer than the scores indicate. Adirondack clearly deserved the win, but FM's talent seemed to be nearly on par with their opponents. These two teams may well be the best two squads in the seven-team Mountain Valley Conference, and the chances are good that they will meet again in the conference championship tournament.
FM Head Coach Rachael Salvione had praise for the T-Wolves. "They got an attack on every play. They were not content to just keep the ball in play - they attacked," stated Salvione, who added, "We were as scrappy as them, but they were making big blocks."
POD Play
The team's next outing will be a triple-header on Saturday, September 13. Mohawk Valley CC will host a POD event. FM is scheduled to play Niagara CC at 10:00 a.m. and then to play Erie and Jamestown later in the day.
Mascot Debuts
FM's new mascot made his appearance at the match and quickly gained the crowd's approval. He kept his identity a secret, but his appearance reminded the onlookers of Edward Teach (better known as "Blackbeard") or Calico Jack Rackham, real raiders who plied their trade in the early 1700s.
We expect this mascot's identity to become known in the coming weeks.
C.J. Bonny, website writer
Photo: All six Raiders attacking during the third set
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