Quagliana finds consistency for Bengals

by Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

As a freshman, you don’t expect much.

Coming from high school there is a transition period a student-athlete needs to make. They have to figure out what college is all about, while trying to find their niche on the field.

Buffalo State sophomore Lexi Quagliana didn’t know what to expect when she stepped on campus last year. The Williamsville native had a great career at Williamsville South High School before starting all over at Buffalo State.

During fall ball, and spring training, Quagliana earned a starting spot on the Bengals. Being able to start as a freshman was a big confidence boost for Quagliana, but it also came with a lot of responsibility.

“I was really excited and honored to earn a starting spot as a freshman. It was a big confidence boost, but I also knew it came with a lot of responsibility. I wanted to prove that I deserved that spot by working hard, staying focused, and contributing to the team however I could,” stated Quagliana. “At first, it was nerve-wracking to know that I was one of the starting nine players because I knew there was a lot expected of me, but my teammates and coaches were very supportive the entire season.”

For her to have a successful year, Quagliana knew she needed to adjust to the speed of the game. You might not think the game is that much faster than high school, but it is. While she dominated at the high school level, Quagliana still needed to make adjustments at the collegiate level to be successful.

She needed to work on her discipline at the plate, and step up her work ethic.

“The biggest adjustment was the speed of the game. In college, everything happens faster—the pitching, the base running, how quickly you have to make decisions on the field, and more,” stated Quagliana. “In high school, I could rely more on my natural ability, but at the collegiate level, I had to be more disciplined, both mentally and physically. The competition is also tougher, so I had to step up my work ethic.”

Heading in to this season Quagliana had a much better understanding what to expect from a college season. There was a lot more games, and a lot more doubleheaders during a college season than in high school.

With a longer season comes working on certain things like her nutrition. She also worked on her weight training more. Quagliana did everything she needed to do to get ready for her sophomore year.

It has paid off as she has started every game this season for a Bengals team that is 16-12, 10-2 as of this writing.

“The longer season was definitely an adjustment, so I had to be more intentional about recovery and taking care of my body. I focused a lot more on strength training— not only to get stronger but to prevent injuries. Nutrition also became a bigger priority to me because I knew that I was going to be playing a longer season and that was something that my body was not used to,” stated Quagliana. “After going through my freshman season, I have a much better understanding of what it takes to compete at the college level. One big adjustment that I have made is with my mental game. Confidence is something that I have to continually work on, and this season it is one of the most important things to me. This season I am focusing on becoming a smarter player, staying confident, and learning from mistakes more quickly. I feel more prepared going into my sophomore season after having a year under my belt.”

As Quagliana entered her sophomore year she still had a lot to work on. While she was redefining her form at the plate, Quagliana was still working on her all-around game. She was putting in the extra work in the field.

She has been working on her footwork, and putting in the extra work as Quagliana has changed positions this year.

“As I enter my second year, I am focusing more on refining my mechanics. Defensively, I’ve been working on my footwork and reaction time, making sure I’m as sharp as possible in the field,” stated Quagliana. “This year I am playing a new position, and I have spent a lot of time learning the mechanics and skills to the best of my ability. Offensively, I’ve been refining my swing and working on situational hitting to be more effective at the plate.”

As the season hits the halfway mark, Quagliana is looking to be more consistent . Her expectations are always to grow as a player both on and off the field.

“As the new season gets underway, my expectations for myself are to continue growing as a player and contribute more to the team. I’m focusing on being more consistent and bringing a strong, positive attitude to every game,” stated Quagliana. “I want to be more consistent in all aspects of my performance, whether that’s improving my batting average or making smarter decisions on defense. My main goal is to keep improving and thrive in any situation I am in on the field.”