Women's Volleyball Highlights
Kristy Mackiewicz was selected as the HVWAC 2006 Coach of the Year!
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November 3, 2007
SLC vs. Mt. St. Vincent
HVWAC Tournament Semifinals
Momentum and energy are fickle mistresses in sports. There's no way to gauge how a close and heart-stopping victory will affect the next contest. Often times, an uplifting triumph will carry over to the next round of competition and lift a team to consecutive wins. But on many other occasions, the emotional drain from an exciting and exhausting success proves to be too much of a hurdle to overcome. Unfortunately for the Sarah Lawrence women's volleyball team conference powerhouse Mt. St. Vincent was too strong a team and easily defeated the Gryphons in the semifinals of the HVWAC tournament at the Campbell Sports Center 30-20, 30-11, 30-17. However, in no way does the defeat diminish the glow of the fantastic accomplishment of their stirring quarterfinal triumph only fourteen hours earlier and Coach Kristy Mackiewicz –and the entire team– will forever take pride in the 2007 volleyball campaign.
Sarah Lawrence seniors Kathryn Scheirer, Molly McDonough and Morgan Asbridge competed in their final matches for Sarah Lawrence. Their leadership and integrity will be sorely missed. Best wishes to all three. And both Kathryn and Molly were awarded a spot on the HVWAC All-Conference team.
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November 2, 2007
SLC vs. College of St. Elizabeth
HVWAC Tournament Quarterfinals
Since the start of practices in September, Coach Kristy Mackiewicz had set a goal of seeing her dedicated squad make it to the semifinals of the Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference (HVWAC) tournament and play in front of the home crowd –on family weekend– at the Campbell Sports Center where the tournament is held. And though the team experienced an inconsistent regular season, the Gryphons entered the event on somewhat of an upswing having won their last two contests. So despite their #6 seeding for the tournament, Sarah Lawrence had regained a degree of momentum when they traveled to New Jersey and faced off against their host and #3 seeded College of St. Elizabeth in the quarterfinals of the HVWAC tourney. Sarah Lawrence lost a tough match earlier in the season to the Eagles and sought a measure of revenge. What eventually transpired was an epic, 2 1/2 hour match that will go down as one of the most thrilling and hard-fought victories in the history of the Sarah Lawrence volleyball program, with the Gryphons taking the contest 30-26, 33-31, 18-30, 20-30, 15-12.
Most sporting events are not worthy of a rich narrative but this match qualifies. Sarah Lawrence came out strong and played consistently and won a tightly contested first game. The second stanza proved most crucial with the Gryphons hanging on and winning an overtime game. So with a two games to none lead, it appeared Sarah Lawrence may in fact walk away with an unexpectedly easy victory. However, any thought of an early evening was put to rest as a suddenly revitalized St. Elizabeth squad stole the momentum away from an increasingly fatigued Sarah Lawrence team, taking the next two games with relative ease. So with the match and a berth in the semifinals at stake, Coach Mackiewicz implored her team to pour all their energy into the final game. Having to vanquish such a powerful team on their home court with the match tied can often be a Herculean task but the Gryphons did so and after the final point a spontaneous, euphoric celebration took place on court, with the Sarah Lawrence team mobbing each other in excitement.
Not surprisingly, the three seniors delivered standout performances. Kathryn Scheirer put up monster numbers with an extraordinary 18 kills, 17 digs and 7 aces. Molly McDonough set a personal record with 36 assists. And senior Morgan Asbridge and sophomore Kate Mountz proved to be a lethal duo, combining for 13 kills, 34 digs and 8 aces.
The Gryphons don't have much time to savor their incredible victory as Sarah Lawrence will look to advance to the HVWAC finals when they take on conference powerhouse Mt. St. Vincent tomorrow. No matter what the outcome, it will be a bittersweet occasion as it will be the final game in Sarah Lawrence green for the three seniors.
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October 29, 2007
SLC vs. CUNY-York College
With the HVWAC tournament less than a week away, Coach Kristy Mackiewicz knew all too well that it was imperative for her team to remain focused for the non-conference match against the CUNY-York College Cardinals on Monday evening at the Campbell Sports Center. She implored her squad to not relinquish the newfound momentum gained from their victory over Southern Vermont two days prior. And after Sarah Lawrence's dominating triumph over York —30-10, 30-11, 30-23— Coach Mackiewicz is surely gratified with the team's effort.
Sarah Lawrence lead the entire way and coasted to the easy win. Senior Kathryn Schierer contributed a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs. Kate Mountz continued her strong serving with 7 aces to go along with 12 digs.
The Gryphons certainly hope this wasn't the last time the team competes at the Campbell Sports Center this year. The HVWAC tournament commences Friday with a quarterfinal match, away, against the Eagles of St. Elizabeth in Morristown, New Jersey. Sarah Lawrence and St. Elizabeth staged an intense, tightly contested match back in September with the Gryphons losing in four close games. But with the Gryphons peaking at just the right time, their prospects look good to defeat their rival and join the semifinal lineup for the HVWAC championship, with Sarah Lawrence hosting the final four teams this weekend at the Campbell Sports Center.
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October 27, 2007
SUNY Old Westbury and Southern Vermont
Seeking to reclaim some late-season momentum before the HVWAC tournament, Sarah Lawrence traveled to Long Island, competing in a non-conference tri-match with SUNY Old Westbury and Southern Vermont. Though the Gryphons were inconsistent in losing the first match to Old Westbury, they regained their composure and came away with a much needed victory in the second tussle of the afternoon, defeating Southern Vermont in an exciting encounter.
Sarah Lawrence was once again beset by inconsistent play and their inability to capitalize on Westbury's mistakes in going down to defeat to the Panthers 30-22, 30-20, 30-15. The Gryphons had trouble behind the service line, lapsing into erratic play with their serves, seemingly out of rhythm for much of the match. On a positive note, senior Kathryn Schierer, winding down her volleyball career, had a great day on the court with 10 kills and twelve digs.
Plucky play has been a hallmark of Coach Kristy Mackiewicz's team when they are performing up to their standard and this aggressive, resourceful and resolute style of competing was on full display in the second match of the afternoon as the Gryphons beat Southern Vermont by the scores of 22-30, 30-23, 30-24, 30-24. It was a tightly contested and well played match throughout.
Perhaps the most gratifying aspect to the victory was how Sarah Lawrence rebounded after yielding the opening game. Sometimes all it takes is one match to vanquish any demons which have plagued a team — and in the Gryphons' case, inconsistency has been the stubborn fiend of late. Sarah Lawrence seemed to gain energy and enthusiasm as the match wore on, with all phases of the game well accounted for.
Accolades were numerous on this afternoon, with the three seniors right in the thick of things as usual: setter Molly McDonough had another remarkable outing with 33 assists, Kathryn Schierer's abilities on offense produced 19 kills and Morgan Asbridge was a double force with 14 kills and 5 aces. Not to be outdone by her elders, sophomore Kate Mountz showcased her powerful arm with 8 aces of her own.
Sarah Lawrence seeks to build upon this victory when they host their final regular season match of the season on Monday night at the Campbell Sports Center against York College.
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October 25, 2007
SLC vs. Mt. St. Vincent
Sarah Lawrence faced off against Mt. St. Vincent –the best team in the HVWAC aside from powerhouse St. Joseph's– in the final conference contest of the season on Thursday evening. It was bound to be a tough match against such a strong and resilient opponent and sure enough the opening game was a back and forth affair. Though the Gryphons were able to keep the match close in that first stanza, they weren't able to arrest the momentum of the Dolphins over the long haul and fell 30-22, 30-16, 30-9. Senior Morgan Asbridge was a bright light for Sarah Lawrence, recording 5 kills on the night.
This has been a particularly tough stretch of matches for Coach Mackiewicz's squad, finding themselves in the unenviable position of facing teams who are dominant in all phases of the game — offensively, defensively and perhaps most importantly mentally. The Gryphons know, when playing well they can compete with any team in the conference. But for the team to fully realize their potential they need to improve their cerebral fortitude, particularly in the middle stages of matches, in order to make an impact — especially with the HVWAC tournament approaching.
Sarah Lawrence will look to gain of measure of confidence in the coming week as they next travel to Long Island to engage in a tri-match with Old Westbury and Southern Vermont on Saturday before their final match of the year on Monday versus York College at the Campbell Sports Center.
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October 18, 2007
SLC vs. Polytech
Playing their third consecutive home match, Sarah Lawrence found themselves up against an intimidating foe as they engaged Polytech in a non-conference encounter Thursday evening at the Campbell Sports Center. Polytech possesses a dominating offensive attack and though the Gryphons tried to maintain a stubborn defense, they nonetheless succumbed to Poly by the scores of 30-12, 30-17, 30-13.
The match wasn't without its highlights for Sarah Lawrence. As has been the case all season long, the seniors on the squad performed superbly. Most notable was the all-court presence of captain Kathryn Scheirer who tallied 12 kills and 11 digs; senior Molly McDonough had another stellar day in her key role as setter, counting 17 assists and 6 digs for the evening.
Coach Kristy Mackiewicz hopes that this loss proves to be an object lesson in how to combat an explosive and intimidating front-line presence. Reduced confidence tends to have a snowballing effect on a team and this was evident in their match against Poly. It is imperative that the Gryphons combat these lapses as they approach the HVWAC tournament on November 2nd. They'll have a full week to prepare for their last conference match of the season when they take on Mt. St. Vincent next Thursday evening in the Bronx. Sarah Lawrence currently resides in the middle of the standings in the conference.
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October 13, 2007
SLC vs. St. Joseph's College and Brooklyn College
Just as the Gryphons were aware of how tough an opponent they had to prepare for against Mt. St. Mary's in their last match, they knew that they'd have the Herculean task of trying to knock off another intimidating opponent - perennial conference powerhouse St. Joseph's College — in the first contest of the tri-match at the Campbell Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon. Though they played with passion and focus and started off each game strong, Sarah Lawrence went down to defeat against the HVWAC leaders 11-30, 13-30, 19-30.
Senior Kathryn Scheirer once again displayed the fortitude and leadership that has been a hallmark of her play all season long as she came up with 16 digs against a relentless St. Joseph's squad.
Each one of these matches against stiff opposition can only help prepare the Gryphons for the HVWAC tournament in early November. And knowing how the team played cohesively, even in a losing effort, can only boost the confidence of Coach Mackiewicz's squad.
The second half of the tri-match proved to be far more enjoyable and fulfilling for Sarah Lawrence. Playing non-conference opponent Brooklyn College, the Gryphons took a tight and exciting encounter in four games, tallying a 30-24, 26-30, 32-30, 30-26 triumph.
Accolades for the home team were plentiful for many members of Coach Mackiewicz's roster. Kathryn Scheirer and Morgan Asbridge —two of the three senior anchors of the team— showed off both their offensive and defensive prowess with 14 kills apiece to go along with 26 and 20 digs, respectively. Molly McDonough, the other senior on the varsity roster, continued her assist rampage, adding 30 to her increasingly impressive total. Not to be outdone by the elder members of the team, sophomore Kate Mountz from Oregon played strong defense and registered 17 digs on the afternoon.
Sarah Lawrence will conclude their three game homestand when they host Polytech in a non-conference match on Thursday evening. Following that, the Gryphons will have one week to prepare for their final HVWAC match against a strong Mt. St. Vincent team.
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October 9, 2007
SLC vs. Mt. St. Mary
Sarah Lawrence commenced a three game homestand with a non-conference match against a strong Mt. St. Mary's squad Tuesday evening. Coach Mackiewicz knew going into the match that her team would be challenged by the Blue Knights from Newburgh. And sure enough, it was a tough match and Sarah Lawrence lost by the scores of 19-30, 18-30. 30-32.
That last game score —30-32— is all the evidence one needs to illuminate how hard Sarah Lawrence fought throughout the match. The Mt. St. Mary's squad is a daunting one to face with their offensive firepower and the Gryphons did a great job of nearly matching the offensive force of Mt. St. Mary's with their own defensive fireworks. Sarah Lawrence ended with a stunning 46 digs for the match - with senior Kathryn Scheirer (13 digs) and sophomore Aubrey Becker (12 digs) leading the way. Perhaps most encouraging was how mentally focused the team was during the match —proving that they have the discipline to at least keep face with a strong foe—testament to a team working in unison.
Next up for the Gryphons is a tri-match on Saturday afternoon at the Campbell Athletic Center against HVWAC powerhouse St. Joseph's College and a non-conference tussle against Brooklyn College.
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October 6, 2007
SLC vs. Bard College and Suny Maritime
Traveling north up the Hudson River to the scenic campus of Bard College in Annandale, Sarah Lawrence took part in a tri-match to take on two non-conference opponents.
In the first match, the Gryphons took on an always-tough Bard team and came up on the short end of a 25-30, 23-30, 20-30 score. Sarah Lawrence's level of play was flat at the start and though they did play aggressively and consistently at times to fight their way back into the contest, they weren't able to sustain any momentum and turn the match in their favor.
There were a few bright spots for the Gryphons. Sophomore Kate Mountz showcased her considerable offensive skills with 6 kills and senior Molly McDonough continued to lead the team in assists as she collected 14 during the match.
Though it was a losing effort, it was an important match in that Sarah Lawrence has several tough teams in the coming weeks and the Bard team is an indication of what they'll face in the coming weeks.
The second match of the afternoon for Sarah Lawrence proved to be far more enjoyable as the Gryphons defeated SUNY-Maritime 30-18, 30-20, 30-25. Even after losing that first match to Bard, Sarah Lawrence came out with high energy and took immediate control against the school from Throggs Neck. The victory was specially satisfying for Coach Kristy Mackiewicz as all members of the team present saw action.
Seniors led the way for this match — Kathryn Scheirer led the offensive effort with 10 kills and once again fellow senior Molly McDonough was dominant in the set-up role as she contributed a season high 23 assists.
Sarah Lawrence will return to action on Tuesday when they host Mt. St. Mary's —a formidable non-conference foe.
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October 4, 2007
SLC vs. College of New Rochelle
Sarah Lawrence looked to even up their conference record when they hosted HVWAC opponent College of New Rochelle on Thursday evening. Their goal was accomplished as the Gryphons reached the .500 level (3-3) with an overpowering performance, winning by the scores of 30-17, 30-15, 30-18.
First year Mary Hempel was the clear stand-out player for Sarah Lawrence. The New Yorker was a force behind the service line with 11 aces, and during one stretch in the opening game, Mary served 13 consecutive points. Her efforts were duly noted as she was awarded the HVWAC Volleyball Rookie of the Week.
Coach Mackiewicz had to be pleased with the effort from her squad. Often times, playing ahead is as tricky as when coming from behind and though the Gryphons won relatively easily, they nonetheless maintained their collective and focused mindset throughout the match and never relinquished their lead. Next up for Sarah Lawrence is a non-conference tri-match with SUNY Maritime and Bard on Saturday, at the Bard campus upstate in Annandale.
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September 29, 2007
SLC vs. Pratt and College of Staten Island
Sarah Lawrence traveled to the outer reaches of New York City - otherwise known as Staten Island - on Saturday to compete in a conference tri-match against Pratt and the College of Staten Island. As in their previous tri-match a week earlier, the Gryphons had a mixed day and ended up collecting both a win and a loss.In the first match, Sarah Lawrence notched their second victory of the season by defeating Pratt in resounding fashion by the scores of 30-24, 30-14, 30-15. After a relatively close first game, the Gryphons took control and coasted to victory.
Sophomore Kate Mountz served up a staggering 11 aces (to go along with her 4 kills) to ignite Sarah Lawrence. And as will probably be the case for much of the season, the continued strong play of seniors solidified the win - Kathryn Scheirer contributed 10 kills and Molly McDonough provided the proverbial glue for the offense with 18 assists. Overall, it was a performance that the Gryphons should take pride in.
Unfortunately, just as in their previous tri-match, Sarah Lawrence came out a bit flat against a powerful Staten Island team and were defeated in three straight games; 30-18, 30-12, 30-18. Though the Gryphons tried to fight their way back into the match on several occasions, they were victimized by 8 untimely errors behind the service line - self-inflicted wounds are lethal when competing against a strong foe.
Coach Kristy Mackiewicz has continued to do a stellar job of blending her large roster - which has players representing an amazing 7 countries - and finding the right combination of players. It is a varied, young and deep group of athletes and Coach Mackiewicz is confident that their play will continue to improve and the Gryphons will be well positioned by the time of the HVWAC tournament in early November.
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September 26, 2007
SLC vs. College of St. Elizabeth
After winning a close opening game (30-26) versus the College of St. Elizabeth on Wednesday night at the Campbell Sports Center, the Sarah Lawrence Gryphons weren't able to sustain their level of play and ended up losing the next three games (30-22, 30-22, 30-25) and the match to the New Jersey college.There were glimmers of hope over those last three games as Sarah Lawrence was able to string together a few scoring runs but the effort proved to be futile as St. Elizabeth was able to stymie any momentum. Though the Gryphons ended up on the wrong side of the decision, there were several standout performances. Most notable was the continued inspired play of seniors Kathryn Scheirer and Morgan Asbridge, who lead the team with 13 kills apiece. And Sophomore Kate Mountz had an outstanding day at the serving line, launching 7 aces.
The loss should prove to be a valuable learning experience for Kristy Mackiewicz' young squad. Just as the tough defeat to Medgar Evers on Saturday evidenced a need for stronger conditioning, this loss showcased the necessity of closing out a victory once an early lead is established.
The Gryphons will look to bounce back strong in a crucial HVWAC tri-match versus Pratt and the College of Staten Island on Saturday (1 p.m.) at St. John Villa High School in Staten Island.
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First Match: September 22, 2007
SLC vs. Cooper Union and Medgar Evers
The women's volleyball season commenced on Saturday with the Gryphons hosting a three-team match against conference foes Cooper Union and Medgar Evers. In what turned out to be a very long—but no less exciting—afternoon, coach Kristy Mackiewicz's squad walked away with both a victory and a defeat.In the opening encounter against Cooper Union, the Gryphons could not have scripted a more thrilling way to inaugurate the 2007 volleyball campaign. Staked to a two-games-to-none deficit, Sarah Lawrence rallied to win the third game 30-24 to gain a measure of momentum. The fourth game was even closer with the Gryphons eking it out 30-26, setting up the dramatic and deciding game. In that final stanza, Sarah Lawrence coasted to a 15-7 victory to earn a very well deserved triumph.
Senior Captain Kathryn Scheirer put forth a dominating performance by leading the Gryphons in the big three cateogries: kills (13), digs (19), and service aces (8). Fellow senior setter Molly McDonough was also a standout with a team high 21 assists.
The fortitude that Sarah Lawrence displayed in its comeback should prove to be a hallmark of this year's team. Coach Mackiewicz has a large and young roster to develop—including seven first years and sophomores on the eleven-player varsity squad in addition to an eight-player novice group comprised mostly of first years—which bodes well for the continued growth and strength of the volleyball program.
Visibly exhausted from their two and a half hour match against Cooper Union earlier in the day, the Gryphons suffered a straight-game loss to a strong Medgar Evers team in the second match of the afternoon at the Campbell Sports Center. The scores were 30-20, 30-21, 30-18. Medgar Evers, coming off a victory of their own over Cooper Union, played an inspired and focused match against Sarah Lawrence. The defeat showcased the importance of conditioning (playing nearly four hours of volleyball in an afternoon) and Coach Mackiewicz will seek to build up the strength of the team in the ensuing weeks.
The highlights for the Gryphons were the play of seniors Morgan Asbridge—who had a strong offensive match with one ace and four kills—and Kathryn Scheirer, whose defensive prowess was highlighted with her eleven digs.
Sarah Lawrence next plays St. Elizabeth on Wednesday night the 26th, in the Campbell Sports Center. This will serve as preparation for the Gryphons' first away match, a three-team conference tussle against Staten Island and Pratt on Saturday the 29th.