On Wednesday, September 1, the NVU-Lyndon volleyball team competed against Fisher College in their first game of the season. Unfortunately, the Hornets lost the opening match to the Falcons. The match scores came out to 25-9, 25-1, 25-10 with the Falcons securing three match wins giving them the game.
The first point was scored by Fisher and it only kept rolling from there. Lyndon kept up for the first two point exchanges, but Fisher gained control over the match due to several fouls and errors made by Lyndon players. The Falcons were up twelve points before the Hornet women were able to score their third. The Hornets then followed up with several more good points, but the Falcons had too wide of a lead for them to keep up.
In the second match, the Falcons lead a slaughter of points; the only point going to the Hornets being a foul. Coming off the loss of the first set, the team and the audience were keen for a Hornet win, but the Falcons were playing strong. Fisher won several points off serves alone, many of the other points coming from set and attack fouls made by Lyndon players. The ball flew out of the court numerous times in the match; it was even struck so hard, it bounced off the ceiling and came straight down, hitting the court in the blink of the eye. Following the conclusion of the second set, members of crowd vocally began to question if the game was over.
However, in the third match, the Hornets didn’t give up and kept the Fisher Falcons on their toes in an attempt to make a comeback. The Lyndon women lead the match scoring the first point, but Fisher followed with the next. They exchanged several points with strong volleys, but Fisher began to pull ahead with an early four point lead. With a six point gap between them and Fisher, it seemed that fate was sealed for Lyndon. The team didn’t stop fighting, though, and fought for every point. At a score of 9-20, a volley ensued longer than any in the whole game. Players were diving left and right with lightening reactions in a train of tight exchanges. The audience, shocked awake by the burst of action, were out of their seats, roaring at the athletes. The ball landed on the Falcons side in the end, but the celebration was short lived when a foul made by Lyndon lead to the point being given to Fisher. The Fisher women were a formidable opponent who played skillfully and secured their win with a large margin, ending the set 25-10.
“We are going to build up from here.” -Mary Grace Weissauer (#12)
Despite the loss, the Hornets played valiantly. Lyndon freshmen Calysta Lohman (#9) and Kiana Jones (#10) scored four points each against the Falcons. Strongly supporting the team, freshman Charlotte Morris (#14) had seven assists and prevented seven spikes from widening the score gaps.
With only two sophomore players, Lyndon’s young team is mostly made up of freshmen. This may have been a rocky debut for the rookie team, but they have plenty of time to grow into their shoes. The Hornets have only been practicing together since early August. Sophomore Nyah Garner (#1) told The Critic “We’ll all get better with knowing how each other like show the sets go, how the hits go, and stuff like that.”
The team’s next chance for redemption at home is Wednesday, September 29 against Vermont State Colleges sister school Castleton University. Until then, the Hornets will be traveling to numerous away matches against University of Massachusetts Boston, Babson, Plymouth State, University of Maine Presque Isle, and more.
Feature Photo by Isabella Mertens || Lyndon leaves the court with arms wrapped around one another in support and team pride.