Members of the 2012 Fredonia State women's volleyball team are, from left, front: Kaitlin Orcutt, Madison Hoffman, Lindsey Olson, Brittney Kelly, and Brianne Paganello; back: Lauren O'Hara, Heather Cooper, Lauren Ciulla, Hannah Manning, Jessica DiChristopher, Meredith Smietana, Bridget Burch, Kelly Edinger, Lauren Hokaj, and Paulina Rein.
SUNYAC TOURNAMENT WEBPAGE
FREDONIA, N.Y. – Despite its rebuilding year, the Fredonia State women's volleyball team finds itself in its 10th straight SUNYAC Tournament.
The freshmen-laden Blue Devils (18-15) qualified as the No. 2 seed from a SUNYAC's West Division – ending a streak of five straight years as the West's No. 1 seed.
Instead, No. 1 seed Buffalo State will play host to the six-team tournament starting Friday and running through Sunday.
Potsdam meets Oneonta at noon Friday, a play-in match to determine the No. 3 seed from the East, with the winner advancing to meet the Blue Devils at 6 p.m.
“We're very much looking forward to playing post-season volleyball,” Blue Devil head coach
Geoff Braun said. “This is what you play for. A win-and-move-on or lose-and-go-home scenario is exciting. I'm anxious to see how our team responds to it.”
Nine of the 15 Blue Devils on the current roster are freshmen. Of those nine, five have consistently appeared in Braun's starting lineup.
In addition, four upperclassmen have been either starters or important reserves in 2012 – the lone senior, outside hitter
Lindsey Olson (Portville); and three juniors, outside hitter
Hannah Manning (Apalachin), libero/outside hitter
Lauren O'Hara (Canandaigua), and outside hitter
Kaitlin Orcutt (West Seneca).
“We have a versatile offense,” Braun said, “which will allow a lot of different people to step up.”
The mix of upperclassmen and freshmen has produced Fredonia State's 13th SUNYAC Tournament team in Braun's 14 seasons as head coach. In addition, the current team was on hand for Braun's milestone 300th coaching victory Sept. 25 at Medaille. His current record is 307-183.
