CORTLAND, N.Y. – Cortland opened the season with home victories over Kean University of New Jersey, 3-0, and St. John Fisher College, 3-0, in a tri-match at Corey Gymnasium. In the other match of the day, St. John Fisher defeated Kean, 3-1 (25-21, 22-25, 25-19, 25-12).
Cortland started the day with a 25-11, 25-15, 25-16 win over Kean. Junior outside hitter Ashley Coyle (Mt. Hope/Minisink Valley) led the Red Dragons with 15 kills and seven digs. Junior middle hitter Sheena Asibey (Brentwood) finished with nine kills, while sophomore outside hitter Katie Wick (Cortland/Homer) and sophomore opposite side Jenna Davies (Brewerton/Paul V. Moore) added five kills each.
Sophomore setter Kristen Guercio (Smithtown/Smithtown East) led the team with 29 assists and shared the team lead with seven digs. Davies notched a team-best four aces.
In the final match of the night, Cortland beat St. John Fisher 25-18, 26-24, 25-12. The Red Dragons rallied from a 20-13 deficit to win the second set.
Coyle led the Red Dragons with 12 kills, five aces and eight digs. Wick put down 10 kills and added six digs and Asibey totaled seven kills. Guercio dished out 31 assists.
Cortland will host the 12-team Red Dragon Classic on Friday and Saturday. Cortland will play Nazareth Friday at 4 p.m. and Buffalo State at 6 p.m. The Red Dragons will also play Saturday at 10 a.m., and again at either 2 or 4 p.m., against opponents to be determined.
Red Dragon Classic Schedule (Sept. 3-4)