By Rob Potter
LOCH SHELDRAKE — October 7, 2005 – The Dutchess Community College women’s volleyball team got off to a quick start in Tuesday night’s Mid-Hudson Conference match versus host Sullivan County Community College.
DCC jumped out to a 16-0 lead in the first game and won that game 30-8. The Lady Falcons then won the second game 30-18 and took the third game 30-10 to sweep the match.
With the victory, DCC improved to 9-0 overall and 7-0 in MHC competition. SCCC fell to 0-6 overall and 0-3 in MHC contests.
Leading DCC to the win was freshman setter/outside hitter Chrissy Chiumento, who recorded 19 aces and 29 assists. In the first game, Chiumento served nine aces as DCC grabbed that early 16-0 advantage.
Freshman middle hitter Dena McKinney added 15 kills for the Lady Falcons.
McDonald paced the Lady Generals with four aces and three kills.
Although they were swept in three straight games, the Lady Generals improved as the match progressed. For example, in the second game SCCC tied the score at 1-1 and 3-3. And in the third game, SCCC took a 2-0 lead on an ace by McDonald.
After that 3-3 tie in game two, however, the Lady Falcons went on a 15-5 run to gain control. McKinney had two kills during that time and Kristen Norbom added a pair of aces.
DCC quickly rebounded from its 2-0 deficit in game three. Katie McGrath recorded two straight aces as DCC grabbed a 5-2 advantage.
Seconds later, SCCC pulled to within 5-3 on a kill by Darcie O’Conner. But unfortunately for the Lady Generals and their fans sitting in the bleachers at Paul Gerry Fieldhouse, that was as close as they would get. DCC outscored SCCC 25-7 for the rest of the game to earn the victory.
“We played a good match,” DCC Coach Mike Abalos. “We have worked hard this season and are just taking it game by game.”
Abalos said that only three of his players – Marris Abroskin, McGrath and Kamby Vladick – are returning from last year.
He noted that the Lady Falcons played well in 2004, but suffered a few injuries near the end of the season.
“We’re just trying to keep playing hard and stay away from injuries,” Abalos said.
SCCC Coach Ann Marra noted that her team is very young.
“Only four of these ladies have ever played volleyball before,” she said. “So we are a developing team. After each match, we talk about what each player can do to improve individually and what we all can do to improve as a team.”
Marra noted that the Lady Generals played a little better when they faced DCC on September 29 in Poughkeepsie.
“We came out a little flat tonight,” she said.
Despite the loss to the Lady Falcons, Marra remains optimistic.
“These girls come out and work hard every day,” she said.
The Lady Generals will look to post their first victory of the season this weekend when they will play four matches at Paul Gerry Fieldhouse.
At noon tomorrow, SCCC will play Hostos Community College. Following that match, at approximately 1:15 p.m., the Lady Generals will meet Manhattan Community College.
On Sunday, SCCC will square off against Fashion Institute of Technology at noon and then face Kingsborough Community College at about 1:15 p.m.