Archive: Sports

Coming off a weekend tournament win over Ithaca, Lansing remains undefeated in IAC play, with 3-0 wins over Whitney Point and Dryden, the reigning IAC volleyball champions.

At Dryden on 9/16, Lansing pulled ahead in the first set to a 20-13 lead but then gave Dryden eight points and a two-point advantage 23-21 through a string of errors.  A well-placed push by Kari Fenner and a tenacious dig by Niki Gain reestablished Lansing’s confidence, and the Bobcats won 25-23 on a Fenner kill and a Dryden error. 

Dryden took a 6-4 lead in the second set, but Lansing returned fire and created a seven-point advantage 20-13, holding the lead to a 25-20 win.  In the third set, Dryden fought back from Lansing’s 10-3 lead to a 15-15 tie but could not hold the momentum.  Lansing regained the advantage and closed the match 25-21 with a Tory Cutting kill and Tara Miller ace, ending three years of Dryden dominance.

Fenner was Lansing’s linchpin through long rallies that kept both teams scrambling.  Her agility and consistency were evidenced by 14 digs, 8 assists, and 3 kills.  Taylor Bandler’s quality sets produced 9 assists, and Cutting was an offensive force, with 6 kills, 2 aces, and 3 blocks.  Miller pitched in 5 kills, 2 aces, and an assist, and she helped contain Dryden’s powerful six-footer, Bridget Bugliari, with a block and 8 digs.

Lansing showcased the depth of its line-up at Whitney Point on Monday night, breezing to a 25-5, 25-6, 25-13 win.  The Bobcats held a decisive lead throughout the first two sets but started the third set with lapses in service reception and hitting errors.  Lansing let the eagles fly just out of reach until the midpoint, when Lansing tied the set at 12-12 and then sealed the victory with 11 unanswered points.  

On offense, eight teammates pitched in kills, and many assisted.  Bandler led with 16 assists, joined by Fenner, Nicole Washburn, and Breanna Brann.  Kristen Beyea had 11 kills, followed by Miller and Cutting with 6 kills each.  Sophomores Blair Wigsten, Amber Howser, and Washburn held service through 31 points altogether, racking up 4, 4, and 2 aces, respectively.  On defense, Beyea, Howser, Miller, and Cutting tallied blocks, while Sunah Bong, Nicolo Gentile, and Gain registered digs.   

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