DRYDEN – The Lady Raiders' sterling season continued on Saturday with pod play hosted by Tompkins Cortland CC. FM defeated SUNY Broome 3-0, then shut out SUNY Delhi 3-0, and then finished the day by shutting out TC3 3-0.
The Raiders not only won all three matches, but they won all nine sets while losing none.
Photo: Kaylee Robinson (center) and Whitney Ostrander (right) block a Broome shot, and Zara Hyde (left) reacts
FM Sweeps Broome
The Lady Hornets of SUNY Broome began the day with a commendable record of 7-3. They played with a balanced attack and a good defense, but FM quickly proved that they were the better team. Whitney Ostrander killed two shots and dinked a third to give FM a 3-0 lead in the opening set.
Freshman standout Katlyn Pierce added two kills. Elizabeth Hayward's save was the key to FM scoring their seventh point. The Lady Raiders were in control. Pierce's kill put FM ahead 20-13. Pierce then blocked for a point and killed again. FM won the set 25-14.
Photo: Karissa Morey attacks in the Delhi match
Broome took an early 3-0 lead in the second set, but a kill by Karissa Morey tied things at 3-3. The set was tied 7-7 when Lady Raiders stepped up their offense. They soon moved out to a 17-11 lead and were in command. Kaylee Gillen was making key digs and other saves. Steady Zara Hyde was assisting on many scoring shots. Kaylee Robinson was attacking on her own and with other Raiders up at the net.
FM won the second set 25-17. They won the third set 25-21, shutting out the Hornets three sets to none.
FM stat highlights: Gillen - 27 digs; Ostrander - 12 kills, 6 blocks; Morey - 3 kills, 10 digs; Hayward - 5 kills, 1 block, 21 digs; Pierce -11 kills, 8 blocks; Robinson 2 kills, 8 digs; Hyde - 30 assists, 15 digs
FM Tames Broncos
The Lady Broncos of SUNY Delhi (5-3 prior to this pod meet) had the first serve, but FM's Ostrander killed two shots, giving FM the first two points. Delhi kept the score close for a while, and the set was tied 8-8.
Pierce, who often blasts unstoppable kills, used a soft and subtle dink shot to put FM in front 9-8. Soon the Raiders were in front to stay.
Photo: Katlyn Pierce's dink puts FM ahead
A service ace by Hyde made it 16-13. She served another ace, and the score was 18-13. Hyde kept serving, and FM kept scoring. She assisted on two consecutive Ostrander kills, and FM led by nine points. The final set score was 25-14.
FM won sets two and three by scores of 25-17 and 25-10.
FM stat highlights: Gillen - 15 digs, 5 aces; Ostrander - 17 kills, 4 blocks; Morey - 6 digs, 2 kills; Hayward - 4 kills and 20 digs; Pierce - 15 kills, 3 blocks; Robinson - 3 kills 12 digs; Hyde - 37 assists, 2 blocks, 5 digs
FM Dispatches Tompkins Cortland
The Lady Panthers of Tompkins Cortland (1-6 prior to this pod meet) are having a rebuilding year, while the Lady Raiders have proven themselves to be among the region's best. FM downed the Panthers by scores of 25-8, 25-17, and 2512.
FM stat highlights: Gillen - 8 digs; Ostrander - 11 kills, 7 blocks; Morey - 5 digs, 1 kill, 3 aces; Hayward - 3 kills, 12 digs; Pierce - 8 kills, 1 block, 1 ace; Hyde - 18 assists, 10 aces; Robinson - 2 kills, 1 ace
Assessing the Raiders
Head Coach Rachael Salvione's team is proving to be a well-rounded, complete team. Salvione has been using a seven-player rotation, and all seven have impressed. Kill shots are dramatic, and every Raider can kill the ball, but points and matches are also won with saves, digs, assists, placement shots, forcing shots, and unexpected shots. This Raider team has excelled in those defensive and transitional areas.
They have minimized unforced errors. They score points by attacking, but they also score by keeping the ball in play and letting their opponents make errors.
The Raiders have improved their serving, but they would benefit from further reducing service errors.
The team now has a week off and will resume play next Saturday in Syracuse for a pod meet hosted by Onondaga CC. FM will take on Cayuga CC at 10:00 a.m. They will also play Onondaga CC and Jefferson CC later in the day.
Click here for video highlights of this pod meet. You can also access these highlights via the volleyball Multimedia page.
C. J. Bonny, website writer
Photo: Ostrander scores with a kill – other Raiders, from left, are Hayward, Gillen, Robinson, Hyde, and Morey
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