By: Ashton Townsend
BROCKPORT, N.Y. --- The Brockport Golden Eagles volleyball team won their first home game after an eight-game road trip. They defeated the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers 3-1. Brockport went on to win the first set 25-21 but lost the second 25-20. After a very back-and-forth two sets, they then dominated the third, 25-17, and won the fourth 26-24. Brockport moves to 3-6 on the season and snapped their two-game losing streak.
Jordan Thompson currently leads the team with 124 kills through nine games.
“Kind of had a few nerves in the beginning but we figured a way out,” Thompson said.
When Brockport got to the third set there were no nerves on the floor for the Golden Eagles.
Thompson led the way for the Golden Eagles with a team-high 15 kills. Leah Vitiello contributed 12 kills on the night while Ashley Allen and Kaitlyn Jewett set the table for their hitters with 24 and 22 assists respectively. Defensively, libero Elise Logan had 15 digs while also adding four aces.
Vitiello is in her first year at Brockport after transferring from Dutchess Community College.
“We actually said in our huddle, ‘this is our sacred place.’ That is what it meant for this team to be back at The Vlog for the first time this season," Vitiello said.
The Golden Eagles have been struggling to find their identity under new head coach Jim Clar. He is not off to the start he envisioned.
“We just don’t worry about the record and do our job every day. If we’re working on the little things and getting better and making small improvements every day, we’ll be fine,” Clar said.
The players believe that with conference play coming up they can gain momentum and go on a winning streak.
“We’re a good team and when we’re on we’re on,” Vitiello said.
Brockport heads on the road once again this time to Pennsylvania to play in the Messiah Tournament on Friday, Sept. 22, and Saturday, Sept. 23.