JOHNSTOWN – The Lady Raiders hosted the Lady Vikings of Hudson Valley CC on Wednesday evening. The Raiders repelled the Viking invasion 25-9, 25-13, and 25-22 for a straight-set victory in front of another good crowd. FM is now 4-1 on the season.
Photo: Karissa Morey plays the ball – also visible, from left, are Zara Hyde, Elizabeth Hayward, and Katlyn Pierce
First Set
FM quickly took control of the first set. Zara Hyde served to open the set, and FM won the first four points. A block by Karissa Morey made the score 7-3 in FM's favor. A kill by Katlyn Pierce put FM ahead 12-5. The Lady Raiders were enjoying success.
Another kill by Pierce upped the score to 15-6. Pierce added a service ace, making it 17-6, and then she aced her next serve. Pierce went on to serve five aces during the match.
FM was closing in for the win. Zara Hyde made a deft flick with her back to the net, and the Lady Raiders led 23-8. The final score was 25-9.
Photo: Former FM student Tiffany Enright sang "The Star-Spangled Banner"
Second Set
The home team won the first point, and another Pierce kill put FM up 4-2. Freshman Pierce has joined teammate Whitney Ostrander as a major offensive threat. Soon another FM freshman, Kaylee Robinson, placed a nice cross-court shot, and FM led 7-3.
Ostrander killed a shot and, soon after that, made an intimidating shot that gave FM a 13-6 lead. The Lady Raiders were in control.
With Kaylee Gillen serving, Pierce killed for one point and followed that play with a block that doubled the Lady Vikings' score. FM led 16-8.
The Lady Raiders kept control of the set and won it 25-13.
Third Set
The Raiders had played well for two sets, but for a while in the third set they seemed to put their game into cruise control. Meanwhile, the Vikings were playing with new resolve. Pierce killed and killed again, but the score was tied 4-4.
Photo: Time out – Head Coach Rachael Salvione and staff address the team – her staff, shown from left, are Nicole MacGregor, Tina Oyler, and Khaleeq Baum
The score went back and forth until an Ostrander kill gave FM a two-point lead at 10-8. The Raiders added a point, but the Vikings added three, and the set was tied 11-all. It was tied five more times before the Lady Raiders went in front to stay. The set ended 25-22, and FM had won the match three sets to none.
The win raised FM's season record to 4-1. Hudson Valley dropped to 1-7.
FM Stat Highlights: Pierce - 5 aces, 13 kills, 2 blocks; Ostrander - 6 kills, 4 blocks; Gillen - 14 digs; Hayward - 7 digs; Hyde - 20 assists, 5 digs
There are seven teams in the Mountain Valley Conference. The Lady Raiders are currently in second place, behind SUNY Adirondack.
FM's next outing will be a three-match pod event on Saturday, September 20 at Tompkins Cortland CC. Their first match of the day will be with impressive non-conference foe SUNY Broome. The Lady Hornets' record is 8-3. FM's second match will be with 6-3 SUNY Delhi, and their final match will be with host Tompkins Cortland (1-7). The FM-Broome match should begin around 11:00 a.m.
C.J. Bonny, website writer
Photo: FM scored in the third set when Kaylee Robinson (right) decoyed and Katlyn Pierece (left) delivered the kill
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