Despite going through a difficult season, the Tompkins Cortland Community College volleyball team continues to show tremendous heart. Hosting Finger Lakes Community College Wednesday, the Panthers struggled in the first two sets, losing 25-16 and 25-20, but then put together a strong effort in the third set before losing 27-25. Tompkins Cortland is now 0-16 overall and 0-4 in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. Finger Lakes is 12-10 overall and 4-1 in the MSAC.
In the opening set, Finger Lakes used a 13-3 run early to take control en route to the easy win. The second set saw the Lakers again go on a big run, scoring seven straight as part of a 17-6 run to lead 19-9. But this time, the Panthers fought back, going on a 7-1 run to close within four at 20-16. That margin proved to be the closest the home team could get, as the teams traded points the rest of the way until the winner by Finger Lakes made the final margin five points.
The third set was entertaining from the start. The teams traded the lead early with Finger Lakes moving ahead and eventually stretching the lead to five points. But the Panthers rallied, twice coming back from five points to pull within one, and then fighting off four-straight match points to force extra play. After tying the score at 24-24 and then again at 25-25, the Panthers ran out of gas and lost 27-25.
Amanda Green (Lansing H.S./Lansing) had a big night with 12 assists, eight digs, four aces, and four kills. Ashley Smith (Lansing H.S./Lansing) led the attack eight kills to go along with five digs and three assists. Jasmine Pooler (Moravia H.S./Moravia) finished with nine digs and two kills while Zira Negrin-Colon (East New York Transit Tech/Brooklyn) had nine digs and an ace. Madison Johnstone (Liberty H.S./Liberty) posted four kills and three digs while Tiffanie White (George Washington Carver H.S./Queens) had three digs, two kills, and an ace.
The Panthers next are in action Tuesday at 6 p.m. against Jefferson Community College. It will be the final home match of the season for Tompkins Cortland.