Plattsburgh, NY – The Sage Colleges' women's volleyball team opened action on Friday night in the 2014 Best Western Ground Round Cardinal Tournament hosted by Plattsburgh State College. Sage triumphed 3-1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-11, 25-21) over Plattsburgh to improve to 5-4. The win marks the 299th career win for Sage's head women's volleyball coach Sandy Augstein-Collins. The Cardinals posted a 25-23 win in set one and the Gators took the next three sets, 25-23, 25-11, 25-21.
For the Gators, seniors Helen Putriment (Troy, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) and Rachel Martin (Troy, NY/Troy) each had 12 kills in the contest. Putriment added 22 digs and an ace, while hitting .286 with a .917 reception percentage as she had only two errors in 22 reception attempts. Martin added eight total blocks including six block assists.
Sophomore middle hitter Michayla Berard (Binghamton, NY/Susquehanna Valley) added nine kills with three digs and a pair of block assists. Sophomore outside hitter Siena Wilder (Ballston Spa, NY/Burnt Hills Ballston Lake) connected for three aces with 13 digs and was perfect with no reception errors in 20 attempts.
Sophomore setter Rachel Liebig (Hartford, NY/Hartford) connected for 36 setting assists in the action while adding two kills and two digs. Another rookie, defensive specialist Missy Schneiderman (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) added eight digs to pace the Gators.
Sage returns to action on September 13 competing in the final day of the Best Western Ground Round Cardinal Invitational. Sage faces Bridgewater State at 11 a.m. and Elms College at 1:30 p.m.
