Archive: Sports

Lansing's home match against Trumansburg on 10/9 started and ended with Taylor Bandler's aces. Bandler's 10 aces and 19 assists were critical to Lansing's 3-2 win, as were Fenner's all-round contributions: 13 digs, 12 assists, six kills, and two aces. The first set was highlighted by an amazing dig and save by Nicolo Gentile, two blocks by Tory Cutting, and well-placed kills by Fenner, Cutting, Tara Miller, and Kristen Beyea. After the 25-18 win, Lansing stopped communicating, and it showed. A close loss in the second set (25-27) was followed by a ten-point deficit in the third set (15-25). One player later described the court as unnaturally quiet.' No one was talking.'

Lansing shot ahead to 15-7 in the fourth set, but the lead was short lived. Tburg tied the score at 19-19. Lansing then used two time-outs and Tburg one, as both teams attempted to slow their opponents' momentum in this must-win set for Lansing. Finally, Gentile's three consecutive aces finished the set 26-24.

The teams appeared well matched as the final set began. Long rallies were punctuated by scrambling saves. Then a rock solid Bandler returned to the service line. Lansing racked up 12 consecutive points, including four of Bandler's 10 aces, finishing the set 25-10 and the match 3-2. Once again, Lansing delivered when the crunch came, despite loss of two players to injuries during the night.

 

As in Lansing's previous five-set match against Dryden, Gentile accounted for over 50 digs, and digs by Sunah Bong, Miller, and Fenner reached double digits. Miller and Gentile also chipped in six and five aces, respectively. Miller led kills with 11, followed by Beyea with seven. Bong and Miller contributed multiple kills from the back court. Most memorable was Bong's recovery from a lunging service reception. Still on the floor when Fenner was setting, Bong rose and hit in a single fluid motion, catching Tburg off guard for the inspirational kill. 

 

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