By: Matt Hanes
BROCKPORT, N.Y. – The Brockport Golden Eagles women’s volleyball team lost a nailbiter on Friday night against the Alfred Saxons 3-1.
The Golden Eagles started off the first set strong, as they took a 3-0 lead after a trio of kills from Anna Cascapera and Alenna Williamson. Alfred responded quick to tie the game 3-3 before Brockport went to score seven straight points.
The Golden Eagles were able to maintain a comfortable lead throughout the first set thanks to Cascapera and Williamson's combined nine total kills. Brockport won the set 25-15.
Williamson recorded a team high 16 kills on the night while Cascapera recorded a season high in kills with 13. The duo worked together to cause chaos for the Saxons defense.
“It’s awesome. I don’t have to worry about having any pressure or anything, and neither does Alenna or Kaitlyn," Cascapera said. "It’s just like, we get the ball, and we do our job, and we just bounce off of each other’s energy.”
The Saxons were able to respond fast after losing the first set, bringing the score to 8-8 before scoring eight straight unanswered points to take a 16-8 lead. Strong defensive efforts from Kaitlyn Jewett and attack errors on Alfred kept Brockport alive late in the second set. However, service errors and a kill from Taylor Malone sealed a 25-23 set.
Jewett recorded a total of 30 assists on the night in the loss for Brockport.
Alfred continued to give Brockport problems throughout the third set, with four more service errors not helping the Golden Eagles. Despite a total of 12 service errors, Brockport head coach Jim Clar does not express any concern about the serving.
“They know how to serve,” Clar said. “We’re not going to harp on it because I’m not worried about them making errors. So, they’re just going to do what they always do, and I know they’ll be better.”
After a tight 9-8 start in the fourth set, Brockport was able to pull forward further with four straight points with help from three attack errors, a kill from Lauren Emke and a kill from Williamson. The Golden Eagles continued to create offensive opportunities that helped send it to one final set, claiming the fourth set 25-18.
Brockport used this momentum to start the final set up 4-0 before the Saxons could respond by tying the set up 4-4. With a pair of points going Brockport’s way afterwards, Alfred proceeded to score four more points thanks to an ace from Grace Ippoliti and some attack errors from the Golden Eagles.
Williamson shifted the tides for again in Brockport’s favor, earning a crucial kill and starting off another four straight points, leaving the set 10-8 before a timeout was called by Alfred.
“I’ve been working with my setter a lot this week to get the timing right,” Williamson said. “Just really getting around in offense and getting up on everything.”
The lead was not maintained by Brockport, as Alfred quickly scored four unanswered to make the score 12-10. The Golden Eagles were unable to bring it back after a time out, with Carleigh Santavy recording the game winning kill for the Saxons.
Brockport records their first loss ever against Alfred in women’s volleyball while Coach Clar’s perfect 11 game streak at home in The Vlog was broken. Brockport’s record shifts to 13-7 on the season and 6-2 in Empire 8 conference play.
“Keep the grit going,” Clar said. “The grit and the energy were there at the end. A little bit cleaner volleyball, a little more consistency, and we are good to go.”
The Golden Eagles look to re-enter the win column tomorrow as they are on the road to Houghton in another Empire 8 matchup on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Comments