MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – One day after opening conference play with a convincing 3-0 win over their Route 20 rival, Cazenovia College, the Mustangs followed up that effort with a key 3-0 non-conference victory over the Red Dragons from SUNY Oneonta.
The visiting Red Dragons took advantage of a handful of Morrisville hitting errors as well as finding gaps in the home team's defense to jump out to a 13-10 advantage. However, the Mustangs gained momentum behind the strong serve streak of Sam Wolf (Liverpool, N.Y.) who took Morrisville all the way to a 15-13 lead. From there, the Mustangs gained a lead with each consecutive serve to walk away with a 25-22 set win.
Morrisville and Oneonta traded points throughout the first half of the second set as each squad left skin on the floor keeping several rallies alive. Down 7-6, the Mustangs found themselves in offensive drought allowing the Red Dragons to build an 11-7 lead.
The Oneonta advantage would not last long as the Mustangs rallied once again behind the strong serve of Wolf. Wolf tallied two aces along the way as the score went from a four point disadvantage to a 13-11 Morrisville lead.
Oneonta did not go quietly however, as they knotted the score up at 15-15. Helena Hanes (Brockport, Pa.) broke the tie with a huge kill off of the set from Kim Dunkleman (Williamsville, N.Y.). From there Hanes picked up the serve and put away two aces of her own to put the second set securely in the Mustangs' control.
The battle continued into the third set as neither team was able to build more than a three point advantage. Defense was the highlight for both squads with the Mustangs and the Red Dragons getting it done at the net with blocks in addition to outstanding digs to keep several rallies alive.
Up 18-16 in the third set, the serve rotation found its way into the hands of Megyan Merrill (Millport, N.Y.). The Mustangs pushed points behind Merrill's serve to close out the set 25-16 for the 3-0 match win.
Merrill and Amelia Baratier (Liverpool, N.Y.) paced the offense for Morrisville, collecting 10 kills each. Hanes, Dunkleman, and Elycia Crittenden (Louisville, Ky.) tacked on five kills apiece, while Kirsten Florio (Wellsboro, N.Y.) added four.
As a team, the Mustangs amassed 53 digs defensively while collecting eight total blocks.
Morrisville will have the weekend off before returning to North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) action on Wednesday, September 19. The 7 PM start against Wells College is also a Golden Laces for Childhood Cancer benefit game for the Mustangs.
Morrisville State College's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2018 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2018 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about Morrisville State College, visit www.morrisville.edu.
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