Bobcats Claw Back Win at Albany

Albany, NY ~ Down two sets to none, and trailing early in the third set, the Paul Smith's College women's volleyball team was in a precarious situation.  The host Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences squad had routinely taken advantage of the Bobcat light bench, winning the first two sets 25-23 and 25-16.

But then, team captain Maddi Rhodes (Charlotte, NC) both stepped up and spoke up, which lit a fire under the visitors as they took the next three sets straight (25-17, 26-24, 15-12) to earn their first Yankee Small College Conference (YSCC) win of the season.

"I just told the team to play their game," said Rhodes.  "We got our serving together and served their weak spots."

The third-set turnaround was catalyzed by Rhodes, who led all players with a whopping 23 kills and 26 total points.  She also added 33 digs, two service aces, and a solo block.  Fellow senior Finnley Jacobson (Vergennes, VT) followed with 14 kills, 55 digs, one assist, five service aces, and four solo blocks.  The two seniors dominated play on the net and on the service line alike.

First year player Kennedy Marchbanks (Cazenovia, NY) added five kills and 50 digs while set specialists Isabelle Cook (Corinth, NY) and Karlye Murphy (Hilton, NY) added 15 and 13 assists, respectively.

"The first win feels great," said head coach Mike Navarra.  "Perseverance is what comes to mind.  The players will face challenges in life, and it will be up to them to determine if they are up for the challenge or just quit.  While they might have felt defeated, mentally they took their game to a different level and that was the difference.  They should be proud of themselves!" he added.

It was a gutsy comeback for the Bobcats, as they continue to play a very difficult early season with a strength of schedule that might be the toughest in all of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Women's DII Volleyball.

"I'm so grateful to have this team for my last season and it feels incredible to take that win, especially with how hard we fought for it," added Rhodes.

The Bobcats sit at 1-2 overall and travel to Vermont on Saturday to compete against NCAA Division III Anna Maria and Vermont State University at Lyndon.  They are currently ranked eighth in the nation in the USCAA.

You can follow the volleyball team on Instagram at @pscvolleyball or you can follow the general athletics account at @smitty_nation for schedules, scores, updates, and much more!  

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At Paul Smith's College, it's about the experience. As the only four-year institution of higher education located in the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, Paul Smith's provides real-world, hands-on learning in fields such as business and hospitality, culinary management, forestry, environmental sciences, and natural resources. We can draw on industries and resources available in our backyard while preparing students for successful careers anywhere. Our community of resourceful, enterprising, supportive, and adventurous individuals collectively provides experiential education, student support in the classroom and beyond, and meaningful opportunities for our alumni. We pride ourselves on research and advocacy on issues that improve our planet and the lives of the people who inhabit it. Learn more at www.paulsmiths.edu.