The Onondaga Community College volleyball team will make its return to the Mid-State Athletic Conference Championship on Saturday for the third straight season as the top-seeded Lazers ready to host No. 4 Jefferson Community College in a semifinal match.  No. 2 Finger Lakes will duel No. 3 Corning in the other semifinal with the winner of each moving on for a chance to claim the 2014 conference crown.

Scouting Jefferson: The Lazers have faced the Cannoneers once this season and emerged the victor, 3-1.  Jessica Cost had 31 assists to go along with 11 digs in the win while Melissa Krak, Leslie Santos, Sydney Burritt and Isabella Winklestine each tallied at least 10 digs in the win.  Jefferson enters the championship with an overall record of 18-13 including a 3-3 mark against conference foes.   

The Cost of Winning: With Cost out of the lineup for head coach Andrew Killian due to injury, the Lazers will rely on Abbey Townley and Rachel Zoanetti to set up Onondaga's high-powered attack.  Townley filled in for Cost earlier this season and notched 30 assists while Zoanetti tallied 14 helpers in her lone start at setter.

Three's Company: Cost, Krak and Allison Massara were all named to the 2014 All-MSAC Team after producing some eye popping numbers this season.  Cost was one of the top setters in Region III and is ranked fourth in service aces (61) while Krak has been the Lazers most effective hitter, tallying 195 kills to date.  The sophomore outside hitter also ranks among the best in the region with 319 digs.  Massara has lined the box score for Onondaga all season and to date has clubbed 111 kills along with 235 digs and 43 service aces.

Blast From the Past: Onondaga has had its hands full with the Cannoneers in the MSAC Championship over the last two seasons.  In 2013, the Lazers fell in the semifinals to Jefferson and despite winning two matches in the 2012 championship against Tompkins Cortland and Finger Lakes, Onondaga lost in the title game to Jefferson in straight-sets.  

Now Back to the Future: Should the Lazers advance to the title game, they'll face some tough competition in either Finger Lakes or Corning.  Onondaga took the season series against the Lakers this year, winning two of its three matches.  The Lazers fell to Corning earlier in the season but bounced back to win both of its remaining matches against the Red Barons this season including a straight-set win earlier this month to clinch the top-seed in the MSAC Championship.

Players to Watch From Onondaga: Outside of the Lazers' Big Three, the roster features several players that are capable of hitting the ball.  Najah Amica has provided a spark for Onondaga in the middle, amassing 105 kills 38 blocks.  Look for her to alter the approach of opposing hitters.  Leslie Santos also has the ability to neutralize an opposing team's offense as the Syracuse native leads the team and ranks among the regional leaders in digs (333).  Sydney Burritt and Winklestine have each come up big lately for the Lazers as well.

Players to Watch From Jefferson: Haley Riley enters today's contest with 328 kills which ranks the sophomore hitter fourth in Region III.  Earlier this season against the Lazers, Riley posted a double-double with 19 kills and 16 digs.   Jayne Strigle is one of the top defensive specialists in the country and ranks third in the region with 484 digs.  Mel Fakatou (127), Marissa Brown (124) and Grace Wallace (103) have all surpassed the 100 kill plateau this season.

Players to Watch From Finger Lakes: Ryenn Smith is perhaps one of the best hitters to have played in the conference in quite some time.  Her 416 kills leads all players in Region III and ranks second in the nation.  She recently became the first player in Finger Lakes history to surpass 1,000 career kills and was also named to the 2014 All-MSAC Team.  Aubrey Davis has benefited from Smith's hitting prowess and as a result has amassed the second-most helpers in Region III this season with 745.  Mary Beth Schram and Smith are also solid defensive players, having recorded 205 and 193 digs, respectively. 

Players to Watch From Corning: Mallory Sullivan led the Red Barons this season in total kills (214), hitting percentage (.256) and blocks (63.0). Kayli Westervelt has also proved to be a strong player for Corning.  The sophomore outside hitter ranks second on the team with 171 kills and 251 digs.  Both were named All-Conference by the MSAC and should play a big role in this weekend's outcome.  Lindsea Jones could frustrate opposing hitters on Saturday, too.  Entering the championship, she leads Corning with 283 digs. 

For more information visit the Championship Page.