2008 Woodie Awards
Volleyball drops two in NYC; Holds strong at 24-10
Cristina Liquori
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Sports
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Despite a rough weekend at the NYSWCAA tournament held at NYC, the team is now only one win away from tying the season-win record for the program. Going into the tournament this Saturday, the team stood at 23-8 and was ranked number seven in the NYSWCAA. R.I.T. came in number one, followed by Nazareth, Ithaca and Brockport. The host, NYU was put in the five spot with Skidmore right behind them at sixth. The bracket set Union against number ten ranked Hartwick for the first game of the weekend.
The noon match was preceded by a march-in ceremony for the teams. All-state selections were made, as junior middle hitter, and Burnt Hills native Rachel Ormsby made the First Team. Also, sophomore libero Veronica Mynders was named Co-Defensive Player of The Year, an honor shared with Lauren Dinsdale of Skidmore. Among the many reasons for deserving this honor, Mynders broke the single season dig record for Union a week ago, and continues to put it out of reach.
And so with those honors on the books, the women took on Hartwick. They had previously beaten them in five games at their first tournament in Oneonta. They had also beaten them at their own home invitational in September in four games. The women shaved one more game off the score this time around, as they swept them in three with scores of 30-28, 30-25, and 30-14. The hawks folded under the consistent defense and offensive attack as the Dutchwomen. Freshman Erika VanValkenburg led the offense with 18 kills and is fourth on the team in total kills on the season. Sophomore setter Jen Merinder continues to pace the offense, posting 34 assists on the match. She is now well above the 1,000 assist mark on the season. Mynders led the team with 23 digs and pushed her record even further out of reach.
With this win, Union moved on to play the number two seed, Nazareth. Despite their best efforts, the team fell in three with scores of 30-21, 30-17 and 30-17. Mynders led the defense again with 15 digs and Merinder posted 23 assists. Junior outside hitter Julie LaSpina led the offense with 14 kills, and keeping her at third on the team with total kills. Rachel Ormsby added five kills, seven digs and four blocks for the Dutchwomen. She is now first on the team for total kills and second for hitting percentage. Losing other junior middle hitter Erin Schumaker in the match to an ankle injury did not help the team's attempt. Erin leads the team in hitting percentage and total blocks this season.
This put Union out of the running for the state championship and they lost to Skidmore in three on Sunday in the consolation game. Ithaca College ended up winning the entire tournament. With only two more weekends to go in the season, Union will look for more wins to break the single season record. A tie could be a possibility on Tuesday, October 30 as they take on Oneonta at 6PM in the Viniar Athletic Center. They will travel to Clarkson for Liberty League championships next Friday and Saturday.
The noon match was preceded by a march-in ceremony for the teams. All-state selections were made, as junior middle hitter, and Burnt Hills native Rachel Ormsby made the First Team. Also, sophomore libero Veronica Mynders was named Co-Defensive Player of The Year, an honor shared with Lauren Dinsdale of Skidmore. Among the many reasons for deserving this honor, Mynders broke the single season dig record for Union a week ago, and continues to put it out of reach.
And so with those honors on the books, the women took on Hartwick. They had previously beaten them in five games at their first tournament in Oneonta. They had also beaten them at their own home invitational in September in four games. The women shaved one more game off the score this time around, as they swept them in three with scores of 30-28, 30-25, and 30-14. The hawks folded under the consistent defense and offensive attack as the Dutchwomen. Freshman Erika VanValkenburg led the offense with 18 kills and is fourth on the team in total kills on the season. Sophomore setter Jen Merinder continues to pace the offense, posting 34 assists on the match. She is now well above the 1,000 assist mark on the season. Mynders led the team with 23 digs and pushed her record even further out of reach.
With this win, Union moved on to play the number two seed, Nazareth. Despite their best efforts, the team fell in three with scores of 30-21, 30-17 and 30-17. Mynders led the defense again with 15 digs and Merinder posted 23 assists. Junior outside hitter Julie LaSpina led the offense with 14 kills, and keeping her at third on the team with total kills. Rachel Ormsby added five kills, seven digs and four blocks for the Dutchwomen. She is now first on the team for total kills and second for hitting percentage. Losing other junior middle hitter Erin Schumaker in the match to an ankle injury did not help the team's attempt. Erin leads the team in hitting percentage and total blocks this season.
This put Union out of the running for the state championship and they lost to Skidmore in three on Sunday in the consolation game. Ithaca College ended up winning the entire tournament. With only two more weekends to go in the season, Union will look for more wins to break the single season record. A tie could be a possibility on Tuesday, October 30 as they take on Oneonta at 6PM in the Viniar Athletic Center. They will travel to Clarkson for Liberty League championships next Friday and Saturday.
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