Sheena Asibey had a team-high 26 kills in Cortland's two wins
10/31/2009
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The SUNY Cortland volleyball team closed out the regular season with victories over Union College and Ramapo College to finish 4-0 at the Skidmore Invitational. The Red Dragons (23-11) shared tournament championship honors with New Paltz, which also went 4-0 in the seven-team tournament.
Cortland has won six straight matches and 11 of its last 12 as it prepares for the postseason. The Red Dragons will face Geneseo in the SUNYAC quarterfinals on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 5 p.m. in New Paltz.
Against Union, Cortland rallied to defeat the Dutchwomen 3-1, with scores of 19-25, 25-23, 25-19, and 26-24. Sophomore Sheena Asibey (Brentwood) led the Red Dragons with 16 kills and two blocks. Senior Ariel Rakita (Lake Grove/Sachem) added nine kills, 13 digs, and three blocks. Sophomore Kaitlyn Cooper (Rochester/Webster Schroeder) also contributed nine kills along with two aces and seven blocks.
Senior Michelle Gaufman (Wantagh/MacArthur), who was named to the all-tournament team, recorded eight kills and 14 digs. Freshman Kristen Guercio (Smithtown/Smithtown East) had 39 assists, six digs, and a kill. Fellow freshman Katie Wick (Cortland/Homer) rounded out the leaders with 15 digs.
In the later contest, Cortland swept Ramapo by scores of 25-17, 25-20, and 25-16. Gaufman had a match-high 14 kills against the Roadrunners to accompany her two aces and nine digs. Cooper totaled 11 kills, three blocks, and two aces and Asibey continued her strong play with 10 kills and three blocks. Rikita finished with seven kills, eight digs, and a block, while Wick added 16 more digs. Guercio nearly matched her first game total with 38 assists, while also recording an ace and six digs.