Season in Review – 2012 Brought More Highs than Lows Despite Record
CANANDAIGUA – The 2012 season unfortunately didn't possess a winning record for the Lady Lakers. What it did possess was a strong team with a ton of heart. This year's squad, which finished 14-21, boasted a team-oriented roster, one that worked hard for each other and one that came ready to play on a daily basis in practices and in matches. The character that Finger Lakes roster displayed throughout the entirety of the season was defined by its coaching staff as superb. Led by fourth-year head coach Kristen Sharp as well as first-year assistant coach Ryan Gardner, the Lady Lakers boasted not only a quality roster – however they also boasted a top of the line coaching staff.
Carrying a group of six freshmen and five sophomores, the 2012 FLCC club certainly exhibited a solid blend of first and second-year athletes. A key positive for the Lady Lakers this past season was their record in the Mid-State Athletic Conference. In the MSAC, they finished 5-1 all while earning a 2 seed in this year's MSAC Conference Tournament.
The season took shape on a curvy road. The Lady Lakers first five matches went like this – win, loss, win, loss, win. The road then hit a dark patch. After a 3-2 start, FLCC would become victims of defeat in each of its following seven contests. After going 3-9 in its first 12 matches, Finger Lakes would go 2-4 in its next 6 matches – altering their record to 5-13 at precisely the halfway point of the season.
After match 18, the team had 17 matches remaining on its schedule. Over that stretch, they turned what looked to be a year trending in an unpopular direction into a positive direction. In those matches, the Lady Lakers played slightly over .500 volleyball by going 9-8.
Finger Lakes played its best volleyball on its own hardwood – where it went 7-3 on the season. Away from Putt Moore Court, they went 3-5 in official road matches and 4-13 on neutral surfaces. Of the 14 wins that they recorded, 8 of them came via the sweep. With their five conference victories, the Lady Lakers came up one win shy of sweeping their 2012 MSAC schedule. Their conference wins came over Tompkins Cortland CC, Onondaga CC, Cayuga CC, Corning CC, and Broome CC.
FLCC's season ended with a trip to the MSAC Tournament semifinals. 2012 may not have ended the way the Lady Lakers scripted it – however it sure did end with a great deal of positives attached to it. Firstly, Jordan Smith, a star outside hitter, performed at a high level on a consistent basis throughout the duration of the season. Her play, which consisted of her being ranked both nationally and regionally in kills per set (3.42) and digs per set (3.41), directed her towards the honor of being named Conference Player of the Year in the MSAC.
Smith was one of several Lady Lakers who turned in solid statistical years. Her teammates, (both freshmen) – Conley Gayton (setter) and Julianna Marcello (libero) – also delivered quality performances for FLCC in 2012. Gayton and Marcello were ranked nationally and regionally in assists per set and digs per set respectively. Gayton turned in a 7.33 assists per set average this past season while Marcello put together a digs per set average of 3.64.
Finger Lakes also received solid efforts out of its remaining roster – a roster that consisted of talented athletes in Courtney Bradish (outside hitter/setter), Savanah Crook (libero), Sierra Graham (middle hitter), Brittany Havens (middle hitter), Danielle Joseph (outside hitter), Meaghan McCarthy (middle hitter), Casi Strait (opposite hitter), and Shannon Tozier (right side hitter).
The Lady Lakers, who will now look towards the 2013 season, developed a strong freshmen class in 2012 – one that consisted of Bradish, Crook, Gayton, Graham, Joseph, and Marcello. If these outstanding players mentioned return to the roster in a year, you can be assured that with a year under their belts, FLCC will have great things in store for 2013.