The UR volleyball team is 7-2, having won five straight games, including the defeat of SUNY Potsdam to secure the Potsdam Tournament title. Before the Potsdam Tournament, the Yellowjackets played in the Cortland Red Dragon Invitational, splitting the four games by beating Montclair State University 3-0, with sophomore Dana Hilfinger leading the team with nine kills. Junior co-captain Jessica Rasmussen and freshman Katie Drinkwater put on a show defensively with 15 digs each. However, UR couldn’t recapture that winning feeling and lost to SUNY New Paltz 1-3, with sophomore Emily Hunter getting 12 kills and Rasmussen getting 21 digs.
The Yellowjackets took out their anger on SUNY Fredonia, winning 3-2, again Hunter led the team in kills with 18 and Rasmussen pitching in 21 digs.
The volleyball team closed out the Cortland Red Dragon Invitational by losing to Lebanon Valley College 1-3. Hilfinger led the team in the defeat with 12 kills and Rasmussen continued her defensive dominance by recording 17 digs.
Leading up to the championship game, the ‘Jackets beat SUNY Plattsburgh 3-1, with senior Emily Hunter leading the team with 11 kills and freshman Rachel Bender putting up 25 digs to lead the team defensively.
After that game at Potsdam, UR took on St. Lawrence University, whom they defeated 3-0. Hilfinger took control of the offense with 12 kills, while junior Jessica Rasmussen had 10 kills while also leading the team with 17 digs.
Following that beat down, the team took on Clarkson University and laid down the law with another 3-0 victory. Once again, Hunter took charge of the offense with 11 kills. Rasmussen solidified her standing as a defensive leader again taking charge with 14 digs followed closely by freshmen Maura Hamilton and Bender, who both had 12 digs. The win allowed the ‘Jackets to advance to the championship.
For the championship game, Hunter led the team with 12 kills, while senior Ariel Edelson chipped in 11 kills. For the defensive side of the ball, sophomore Kate Lewis led the team with 26 digs in the 3-1 defeat of Potsdam.
“Kate Lewis started on the right side and did really well,” head coach Linda Downey said.
She was happy with the win due to the fact that the tournament was fair game for anyone.
“All four teams were very even and anyone could have won the tournament,” she said.
Bender was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, while Rasmussen was named to the All-Tournament team.
“This was a good confidence booster going into the RIT tournament,” Downey said.
On Tuesday, the team took on D’Youville College on the road, coming back with a 3-0 victory. The whole team pitched in with at least three players having seven kills or more. Rasmussen showed off her all-around game by contributing 11 kills and 10 digs. Edelson had seven kills and contributed three blocks to the defensive effort.
“Our girls are in good shape, but we have a long way to go with our schedule this year being extremely tough,” Downey said. “It took us a while to find the right positions, but I think we’ve got it right, and all we need now is experience.”
The team plays at the RIT Tournament on Sept. 14 and 15, followed by a road game against RIT on Sept. 18.
Maystrovsky is a member of the class of 2009.
