The Fredonia State Women’s Volleyball team is returning to the postseason. The Blue Devils are seeded fourth in the SUNYAC playoff and host fifth-seed New Paltz in Dods Hall Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.
Fredonia State swept New Paltz during the regular season, but the Blue Devils are taking nothing for granted. “We’ve talked a lot about expecting more out of ourselves,” said Fredonia State Women’s Volleyball Coach Geoff Braun. “When the postseason comes, you have to be playing your best volleyball. So that’s the plan no matter who’s on the other side of the net.”
“It’s definitely a great feeling to have a home playoff match,” said junior outside hitter Brinn Shaughnessy (Apalachin) “We definitely earned it. New Paltz is a great team, so I think beating them in three was a really good start. But they’re definitely going to come back stronger. I really like playing them because they’re really physical, really aggressive. I think it makes us play our best, too.”
Fredonia defeated New Paltz at home on Oct. 9 with set scores of 25-18, 25-15, and 26-24. In that match, junior middle blocker Emily Jones had 12 kills and 3 blocks, while Shaughnessy and senior outside hitter Christie Ackendorf (Amherst, N.Y.) added 7 kills each.
This is the first home playoff match for women’s volleyball since a thrilling five-set victory over SUNY Potsdam on Oct. 30, 2018. The match was played in front of a capacity crowd in Dods Hall Gymnasium, and the Blue Devils are hoping for the same atmosphere Tuesday.
“We love defending Dods,” said Braun. “Just that echo that happens in that gym, whether you put 50 people in there or 300 people in there, it’s great. The players can feed off that energy.”
“It’s exhilarating,” said Jones. “I remember how loud the gym was. Every seat in the bleachers was packed, and being able to do that again my senior year, and go out with a bang, is amazing. I can’t believe I get to have this opportunity twice.”
