October 21, 2014

ITHACA, N.Y. – There is a well-known phrase that goes like this: "History repeats itself," the SUNY Oneonta volleyball squad made sure that was true. The Red Dragons traveled to Ithaca College for the second time this season, matching their Bomber Invitational result with a 3-2 victory over the host. Oneonta has beaten the Bombers four straight times, dating back to last season.

 "This team continues to amaze me with their athleticism, competitiveness, character and toughness on the court and on the bench" texted an ecstatic head coach Colleen Cashman." We don't have just one star on the court. They all step up and contribute."

The contributions didn't take long to show Tuesday night. The Red Dragons got down 2-0 early, but Paige Carpluk (Yaphank/Bellport) would have no parts of it. The junior tallied the Red and White's first 2 points of the game to tie the game. Jessica Pelaccio (Verplanck/Hendrick Hudson) handed Oneonta its first lead at 8-7 with a service ace following a Hannah O'Neil (Brookhaven/Bellport) kill. After getting the serve at 14-13 following a Jill Darpino (Endicott/Union Endicott) kill, Kristen Polan (Westhampton/Westhampton Beach) followed a Kassidy Keivit kill with a service ace forcing an Ithaca timeout, only to come out of the timeout with two more. The Red and White went on to take the opening set 25-16.

Trailing 7-6 early in the second set, Whitney Blair (Binghamton/Windsor) stepped to the service line six straight times, helping the Red Dragons open a lead of as many as four. Kievit vaulted the team to an 8-7 lead in that stretch forcing Ithaca to call a timeout, out of which rookie Melissa Voyer (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) killed a Pelaccio feed. The service of Pelaccio helped force the Bombers into back to back attack errors to help Oneonta to an 18-15 spread, but the Bombers would ultimately take the set 25-22 and the third set 25-20.

With their backs against the wall, The Red Dragons came out with the pedal to the metal in the fourth set. A Carpluk kill, Kievit/Carpluk block and a Pelaccio ace opened a 3-0 lead, a lead they would not relinquish. The Red and White forced another early Ithaca timeout after opening a set-high five point advantage. The Bombers slowly climbed back into the contest, eventually tying the game at 23 but the Red Dragons wouldn't be discouraged. Cashman called her first timeout at the 23-23 tie, from which Carpluk and Darpino recorded a kill apiece to send the match to the do-or-die fifth set.

Oneonta took the first two points in the battle that was set number five. A pair of Bomber attack errors sandwiched around a Voyer kill opened the largest lead of the set at three, again forcing an Ithaca timeout. Ithaca used short, two-point spurts to claw back tying the set at twelve before Polan put the Red and White back in front. The teams alternated points before Polan and O'Neil combined for the match sealing block.

Oneonta had a trio of players with double-digit kills Carpluk led the way with 22, while Darpino added 19 and Kievit had 10. Pelaccio was selfless with assists as she handed out 34 helpers, while Karly Greco (East Patchogue/Bellport) dished out 18. Three Red Dragons had double-digit digs led by libero Allyson Coniglione (Glenville/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake)'s 20. Carpluk dug 17 balls, with Darpino recording 11.

Cashman had nothing but praises for her squad following the win saying "They are an awesome team who works hard every day and I lovetheir character to never say die to pull out the wins!"

The Red and White look to carry the momentum with them this weekend when they travel to Plattsburgh for the final SUNYAC Pool Play Weekend of the season. Oneonta will take on Buffalo State Friday, before taking on the host Cardinals and Brockport on Saturday.