Oswego Pushes Clarkson To The Brink; Falls In Five

Recap, photo courtesy of Oswego

OSWEGO, N.Y. – The Oswego State volleyball team dropped a tough-fought battle to Clarkson University in five sets: 16-25, 25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 16-14, on Tuesday evening. Oswego is now 9-8 on the year and Clarkson improves to 12-4.

After falling behind 3-1 early in the first set, the Lakers clawed back in. Upon getting even at 6-all on an ace by Lindsey Champitto, Oswego never looked back and cruised to take the set, this time on an ace by Rina Qelaj. Champitto tallied two more service aces throughout the match, while Qelaj finished with four.

Champitto also handled part of the assisting duties in the match, tallying 15. Lauren Edwards took
care of much of the rest by dishing out 23 helpers.

Oswego suffered a letdown in the second and third sets, but came back fighting—after trailing 5-0—in the preemptive set. The Lakers were led by 11 kills in the fourth, which came off the hands of Meaghan Roefs (2), Isabella Winklestine (3), Ariel Murawski (2), Emma Moriarty (2), Rina Qelaj (1) and Megan Russell (1).

Murawski led the team with 13 kills, while Roefs and Russell backed her with nine each. The three were also the team toppers in blocks as they tallied five, four and eight, respectively.

In the fifth set, the Lakers hung tough and made it all the way to match point before eventually succumbing in extra points, 16-14. Much of the set was driven by defending Clarkson's attacks and keeping the ball alive. Moriarty (24) and Jessica Long (23) led this attack in the set and on the evening with hard-earned digs.

The Lakers will return to action on Friday as part of home-hosted SUNYAC Pool Play. Oswego starts with a match at 5 p.m. against Cortland on Court 1 in Max Ziel Gymnasium.