The Bard College women's volleyball team fell in its final two matches of the Oswego Invitational on Saturday against the Lakers 1-3 and the Alfred Saxons 1-3.
Xenia Vassou had a season-high 10 kills versus Oswego State and followed it up with seven against Alfred. Additionally,
Penelope Joosten Lingo had a career-high 23 digs and
Isis Pribble notched a career-high 17 digs against the Lakers.
Fernanda Julian picked up her third double-double of the season in the first match with 15 assists and 12 digs.
Joosten Lingo had 22 more digs against Alfred, and Pribble and
Ava Rhinehart joined her in double figures with 12 and 10, respectively.
Alex Beer had a solid outing in the second match, with nine kills to just one error. Similarly,
Nala Roman had eight kills, good for second on the Raptors. Julian added to her assist tallies, notching 20 against Alfred.
Bard will start Liberty League action with a road match against #11 Ithaca on Friday at 6 p.m.
Bard 1, Oswego State 3
In set one, Bard went ahead 6-3 early on, with help from a Beer kill and a Joosten Lingo ace. Following that, Oswego State went on a 6-0 run to take the lead. The set was still a three-point difference at 15-12, but Oswego State won 10 of the final 13 points to hold off Bard.
The Lakers went ahead in the second set, 9-5. The Raptors answered with three straight points including a kill by Roman and an ace from Julian. Oswego State's offense started to roll, scoring four straight points and 10 of the next 13. The Raptors chipped away, getting to within six at 19-13, but a final 6-4 spurt from Oswego State proved to be enough.
Bard found itself fighting an uphill battle in the third, but it was one that it would win. The Lakers started ahead 6-2, but Bard knotted it up at 12-12 after a 10-6 run. Three consecutive points from Oswego State made it 15-12, but Bard's 6-2 run in response gave the Raptors the edge, 18-17. It continued to be a tight set until 21-21, when a clutch pair of kills from Pribble was the boost that Bard needed to extend the match.
It was a testy fourth frame, as neither team could find separation in the first 20 points, leaving the score even at 10-10. Oswego State struck first with a 5-0 run, only to be caught by a Bard 7-2 run to tie it again at 17-17. The teams jostled for positioning down the stretch, and the Lakers took six of the final seven points to knock Bard off.
Bard 1, Alfred 3
The Raptors had a strong start to their second match, as they had a 5-0 lead. Bard maintained the advantage until the Saxons tied it up at 11-11. The teams continued to be separated by two or fewer points up until the final point. Alfred finished on a 4-0 run that was the difference.
In the second set, Alfred and Bard were neck-and-neck through 16 points, at 8-8. Then, an 8-0 run from the Saxons broke it open. Bard had a mini 4-2 run, but it was answered by a 6-1 run from Alfred. Bard fought down the stretch, saving three set points before the Saxons ultimately prevailed.
Bard's final stand came in the third set. Alfred maintained a three-point lead at 12-9 when Bard surged ahead using a 6-0 run. Alfred regrouped with a timeout, winning three of the first four points out of the break. Bard did not relinquish its lead, instead it generated some more breathing room with a 5-2 run to go ahead 21-17. Shortly after, the Saxons saved three set points to make it 24-22, but their run fell short, allowing the Raptors to take the third set.
The Raptors' momentum carried into the fourth set with a 4-1 run to begin. Alfred went on a 7-1 run, taking an 8-5 lead. The Saxons continued to roll, extending the margin to seven at 14-7. Bard stayed within striking distance, getting to a six-point game at 14-20, but Alfred won five of the final six points.
