ONEONTA, N.Y. – The SUNY Oneonta women's volleyball team battled to a five-set win over SUNY Morrisville Friday evening at Dewar Arena, 25-12, 20-25, 25-21, 24-26, 15-9. The Red Dragons improved to 8-10 overall and remained undefeated in SUNYAC play at 4-0. Additionally, sophomore Layla Pertchik (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) surpassed 1,000 career assists in the win.
Oneonta dominated the first set, taking an early lead and cruising to a 25-12 win. The Red Dragons limited Morrisville's attack, holding the Mustangs to five kills and a -.125 hitting percentage in the opening frame.
Morrisville responded in the second set, recording 16 kills while committing just one attack error to even the match at one set apiece with a 25-20 win.
The Red Dragons regained the lead in the third set, using a balanced offensive effort to secure a 25-21 victory. Oneonta finished the frame with 10 kills and a .308 hitting percentage while limiting the Mustangs to a .098 mark.
The fourth set was a back-and-forth battle as both teams traded points. Oneonta came close to closing out the match but ultimately fell 26-24, sending the contest to a decisive fifth set.
In the final frame, the Red Dragons delivered when it mattered most, recording seven kills while hitting .160 to pull away for a 15-9 victory and secure the match.
Junior Shea Landversicht (Greenville, NY/Greenville) and sophomore Lily Pugliese (Hopewell Junction, NY/John Jay) led the Red Dragons with 11 and 15 kills, respectively. Landversicht added five total blocks, including two solo blocks, while Pugliese contributed three digs.
Senior Keira Welsh (Patchogue, NY/Patchogue-Medford) also recorded 11 kills, while junior Emma Morretta (Mahopac, NY/Mahopac) finished with six kills and a team-high six total blocks, including three solo blocks.
Pertchik orchestrated the offense with 41 assists while adding 13 digs. Senior Lillian Slattery (Queensbury, NY/Queensbury) anchored the defense with a match-high 29 digs and contributed five service aces.
Oneonta finished with 56 kills, a .191 hitting percentage, nine service aces, and 85 digs. The Red Dragons also recorded 18 total blocks, led by Morretta and Landversicht.
With the victory, Oneonta continued its strong start to conference play and secured another important SUNYAC win.
The Red Dragons return to action on Saturday, October 24, when they host Oswego at 1 p.m. at Dewar Arena.
