The volleyball team stands at 6-12 this season, stealing their first win Sept. 1 over Medaille College. Morrisville beat the Mavericks 3-0.

The Mustangs have a total of 12 players this season, including five seniors: Nicole Leaf, Michelle Neadom, Amber Tewell, Jill Pedulla, and Madison Cassidy.  There are two juniors, Jessica Robinson and Christina Fenaroli; and three sophomores, Jessica Cassel, Danielle Ellis, and Danielle Hertel.  Newcomers this year are freshmen Nicole Wright and Ebony Whitfield. 

 “Being a freshman, I feel as though I made a good decision joining the team,” Whitfield said.  The freshman middle hitter led overall statistics in many matches this season and ranked second for hitting percentages overall in SUNYAC.

“This is the best Morrisville has [done] in the past few years,” Whitfield continued, “and although I am a freshman, I hope I’ve become an asset to the team.”

Also new to the team is Coach Brian Ellithorpe, a SUNY Cortland graduate and former coach of the Cazenovia High School women’s varsity volleyball team.  At Cazenovia, he coached the team for 11 seasons before moving to Cazenovia College as assistant coach in 2006. 

The Mustangs started their season with Ellithorpe on Aug. 31 at the D’Youville College Tournament.  Morrisville competed with both D’Youville and Cazenovia College, but came up short on the scoreboard, losing both matches 3-1 and 3-2.  Continuing the D’Youville Tournament on Saturday, the Mustangs picked up their first win against Medaille College but suffered a tough loss to Hilbert College, leaving Morrisville with a record of 1-3.  Whitfield led in kills each game, with Neadom not far behind. 

The Mustangs moved on to play Utica College on Sept. 5, putting another “W” in the book after winning three consecutive games over the Pioneers.  The following weekend, Morrisville played two matches, leaving the Mustangs with another win against Bard College and a loss to Philadelphia Biblical, making their record 3-4. 

The Mustangs fell short against Medaille College at home Sept. 10, losing the match 3-1, but made up for it the following Wednesday by beating Cazenovia College Wildcats 3-1. 

Opposing volleyball fan Morgan Beatty from Cazenovia College said, “Morrisville deserved that win; they definitely dominated most of the match.”  Many fans who attended the game were impressed by Morrisville play as they added another win to their record, making it 4-5 overall.

 The Mustangs participated in another tournament on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14 and 15, playing Kean University, Elmira College, SUNY New Paltz, and Farmingdale State.  Morrisville dominated over Kean and Elmira, finishing both matches with a win, but lost to New Paltz and Farmingdale.  Whitfield said, “We are right where we should be which is coping with loses and celebrating wins.

Next up for competition, the Mustangs played in the SUNYAC West Pool Play, but struggled with Geneseo, Fredonia, Oswego, Brockport, and Buffalo State, losing every match 3-0, leaving them with an overall record of 6-12.

The Mustangs move on to again play Cazenovia College Thursday, Oct. 11, and then participate at the Oswego State Invitational.