BROOKE ATKINS
Social Media Manager
The beginning of a long, game-filled weekend first called for a home match for the Blue Devils against the Allegheny Gators. Sweeping the three sets improved the team’s overall record to 3-2.
This was also the home opener for the women’s volleyball team. The first set was no competition for the Blue Devils, taking the win 25-17.
Starting out the second match a little relaxed, Allegheny jumped ahead to take a 17-11 lead of the Devils.
After pulling themselves together, Fredonia rallied back to get the next four points. Down by one point, Fredonia’s Kailey Falk stepped forward to have back-to-back kills.
Before bringing home the match win, sophomore Rachel Aiello completed the final point for the set. Falk, having three out of the four team kills, contributed to Fredonia winning 29-27.
Set two ended with a nail biter, the same way match three began.
After losing the first two sets the Gators jumped on the opportunity to get ahead early in the third game with a 10-5 lead.
The next ten points and the lead came from junior Courtney Poirier, who stepped up to the service line with no fear. Poirier smoked a pair of aces by the Gators and Stanek contributed four kills.
A rally back from Allegheny tied it at 22-all, but not long before Stanek had a solo block and a kill to win the final match.
With 10 offensive kills, Falk led the team followed by Stanek with 9 and Megan Collins with 8.
Junior Hallie Christopher had 22 assists and freshman Amanda Mosack appeared with 14 in her first home match.
“For the season, I am determined to make it to the SUNYAC playoffs and would like to make it to the NCAA tournament,” Poirier said of season’s goals.
After a big sweep at home, the women traveled to New Paltz for the Hawks invitational. In the opening round, Fredonia lost their first games to Stevens with a score of 3-0 and Stockton 3-2.
Coming up big against Stevens was Stanek, who led the women with 9 kills. Following behind her was Christopher with 13 assists. The final set scores against Stevens were 25-23, 25-4 and 25-18.
Not giving up without a fight, the Devils won two sets versus Stockton with scores of 25-19 and 25-20.
Stockton took the win for the middle sets with scores of 25-19 and 25-17. After closing matches, Stockton 15-11 claimed the tiebreaker.
Leading the team with 14 kills and four blocks, Collins came up strong, followed by Aiello with 11 kills and Stanek with 10.
Christopher showed up with 52 assists.
Starting off day two with a record of 3-4 did not stop Fredonia from coming out strong and sweeping Saturday’s matches.
In the game versus Saint Mary, the Devils won all three sets with scores of 25-20, 25-12 and 25-18.
Big players of the matches were Stanek with 10 kills, Collins with nine kills and two blocks followed by Christopher with 35 assists.
The team finished out the tournament with three more set wins against Sage College, 25-18, 25-17 and 25-20.
When asked what the highlight of the weekend was, Poirier stated winning the last match of day two. They were determined to leave the tournament with a winning record, and that is just what they did.
“After losing two matches, we rebounded the second day for our next two games,” Poirier said.
After rebounding, Poirier also talked about “improving and continuing to work on our communication and trying to keep our energy up.”
Key players were Stanek, Collins, Mosack and Poirier.
The ladies finished the invitational at 2-2, now with a record of 5-4. Next weekend the Devils will be on the road again at the Union/Sage Crosstown Tournament.