The Plattsburgh State volleyball team is looking to play spoiler against its SUNYAC opponents.
This past weekend, the Cardinals broke their eight-game losing streak with a win over Utica (8-19). Following this win, PSUC held its own against two stellar teams in Canton (18-5) and Clarkson (25-3), who is ranked No. 16 in the nation.
Senior Maggie Schrantz said it felt good to get a win after a long losing streak.
“I think that it was very important for the morale of the team,” Schrantz said. “I think we all played really well this weekend.”
Head coach Jake Bluhm is pleased with the improvement of the younger girls on the team, which has contributed to the team being able to compete with tougher teams. He said the girls have successfully remained positive during the season, something that is hard to do when a team isn’t winning many matches.
“I think the girls rose to the occasion and played hard with no give up,” Bluhm said. “Even though a loss isn’t ideal, they came off the court against Clarkson saying ‘that was a lot of fun.’”
Schrantz has noticed an improvement in the team and the younger girls. The team has started to mesh, and the younger girls have gained confidence as the season has progressed.
This weekend, the Cards have a full SUNYAC schedule and have the chance to end some teams’ seasons.
The Cards have been eliminated from postseason contention due to a SUNYAC record of 0-6. This weekend PSUC hosts Cortland, Potsdam and Oneonta. Cortland and Oneonta, who are both 3-3 in conference play on the season, still have a chance to make the SUNYAC playoffs, and a loss to PSUC could ruin those chances.
This is a spot that assistant coach Matt Lein likes to be in.
“I love playing that spoiler team,” Lein said. “Being that little nuisance of a team that can potentially hold the fate of a playoff hopeful is always a whole lot of fun.”
Schrantz said the bottom of the SUNYAC conference isn’t an ideal spot, but being put in this spot makes the team play like it has nothing to lose.
The team has only six matches left in the season, and the best chance to gain a win would be against Potsdam, a team PSUC took to five games last time the two met.
Email Bailey Carlin at bailey.carlin@cardinalpointsonline.com.
