Spartans Looking Ahead to 2023 Season
After a challenging 2022 season, Cayuga Community College Volleyball is already looking forward to getting back on the court in the fall of 2023.
The Spartans battled through a difficult schedule and a smaller roster in 2022, but showed definite signs of improvement throughout the season. Cayuga finished the season 2-19, with both wins coming against Mid-State Athletic Conference opponent Tompkins Cortland Community College.
Coach Kiana Younis said the Spartans overcame challenging circumstances to compete in most of their matches this season.
"When you look at the previous season, and going through this season with only six or seven players, I think we did better than I expected," she said. "Of course there were matches that could have gone better, but we worked hard each day, and I'm proud of how we competed this season."
The Spartans started the season on a dramatic note, trailing the Panthers of Tompkins Cortland 2-0 before rallying to win the third and fourth sets 25-23 and 25-18. Cayuga completed the comeback with a 15-8 win in the final set.
Cayuga closed the season with their best performance, defeating the same Panthers squad but this time not taking any chances. The Spartans barely trailed in any set en route to a 3-0 shutout, sending out sophomores Paige Lane, Cassie Nolte and Marrin Owens on a win.
Between those two matches, the Spartans had their struggles against a tough schedule that included matches each against regional powers Finger Lakes, Fulton-Montgomery and Jefferson Community Colleges.
Younis pointed to an early season tournament at Jefferson that showed the team's spirit. In three matches, the Spartans refused to quit despite facing Finger Lakes and strong teams from Monroe and Genesee Community Colleges.
"Those teams were good teams, and we fought hard against each of them. That made me realize that this was a team that would fight in each match, and that we wouldn't quit just because we were playing a team with a better record," she said. "Not every team has that willpower. We did."
Younis credited sophomores Lane, Nolte and Owens for instilling that attitude, and for leading the team on and off the court.
"We were looking for leaders to take charge this season and bring the team together, and they did that. Statistically they led us in most categories throughout the season, but more importantly they pulled the team together before the season and kept us together during the tough parts of the schedule," said Younis.
The three sophomores ended the season leading the Spartans in most categories, with Nolte finishing with a team-high 132 kills and 185 digs. Lane led the team with 47 aces and had 92 kills and 163 digs, while Owens led with 205 assists and added 27 kills, 33 aces and 129 digs.
Freshmen Zoe DeRousie finished with 148 digs, 17 aces and 19 kills, and Meagan Fatcheric had 23 kills and 94 digs. Fellow freshmen Rebecca Gates and Skylar Starrett had 58 and 48 digs, respectively.
Younis said she and the rest of the coaching staff are looking forward to next season, and are already working with the returning players and their incoming recruits.
"We're communicating with our returning players, and will work with them this offseason on continuing to build their strengths and improving their weaknesses," she said. "If we put the work in, we can take more steps as a program next season."