Chicopee, MA –The Sage Colleges' women's volleyball team opened play on Friday night at the Elms College Trailblazer Classic, a tournament the Gators won last fall. Sage commenced the night facing Westfield State University and came away with a 3-1 win (20-25, 25-13, 25-13, 25-14). The Gators then posted a 3-0 win over SUNY-Cobleskill (25-15, 25-13, 25-19) and stand at 3-0 on the young season. Tournament play continues on Saturday as the Gators will face the host Trailblazers at 2 p.m. 

Junior outside hitter Katy Rimawi (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) paced the Gators in the contest with her impressive six aces and six kills with seven digs. Senior middle hitter Mickey Mango (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) tallied nine kills with four total blocks including three block assists and had a blistering .562 attack percentage in the match. 

Sophomore defensive specialist sophomore Missy Scheiderman (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) tallied 11 digs with three aces and was a perfect 13-0 with no reception errors in the match. Junior outside hitter Michayla Berard (Binghamton, NY/Susquehanna Valley) erupted for 11 kills with five digs, and four total blocks.

Junior setter Rachel Liebig (Hartford, NY/Hartford) added 29 setting assists with 10 digs as the Gators combined for a team .951 reception percentage in the four set match-up.

Berard had 13 kills in the night cap win over SUNY-Cobleskill with no errors in eight reception attempts and racked up a .391 attack percentage. Mango chipped in with eight kills and had three solo blocks. She now has 13 blocks on the 2015 season, elevating her career resume to include 210 career blocks, which is No. 4 all-time on the career list.

Junior outside hitter Siena Wilder (Ballston Spa, NY/Burnt Hills Ballston Spa) had three aces with 24 digs, while Scheiderman had 14 digs with no errors in her eight reception attempts. Rimawi had five digs with five kills, while sophomore Alyssa Nellis (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) connected for seven kills with three digs.