Albany NY–The Sage Colleges' women's volleyball team hosted Purchase College an Yeshiva University on Sunday in a Skyline Conference tri-match. The Gators posted a pair of 3-0 wins to improve to 10-13 overall and 3-1 in the Skyline Conference. Sage opened with a 3-0 win over Purchase (25-3, 25-5, 25-6) and delivered the 350th career win for Sage's head coach, Sandy Augstein-Collins. Sage then beat Yeshiva University, 3-0 (25-13, 25-18, 25-13) to extend the squad's win streak to three matches.
Against Purchase, Sage posted a .441 attack percentage with a combined team-best 22 aces in the action, while holding the Panthers to a -.220 attack percentage.
Senior outside hitter Michayla Berard (Binghamton, NY/Susquehanna Valley) racked up a team-best 13 kills in the action with 3 digs and 2 block assists and an ace. Junior defensive specialist Missy Schneiderman (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) connected for 8 aces with 5 digs, while senior Devyn Morlock (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) added 4 aces with 4 digs. Rookies Lauren Ferrucci (Schenectady, NY/Bishop Gibbons), Caitlyn Class (Waterford, NY/Waterford Halfmoon), and Jessica Carrozzi (Warnerville, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) all had strong performances for Sage. Ferrucci started and had 4 kills with a .500 attack percentage, while Carrozzi and Class each added 3 kills. Senior setter Rachel Liebig (Hartford, NY/Hartford) tallied 27 setting assists with 1 kill, 1 ace, and 1 digs.
Against Yeshiva, senior tri-captain Sara Campolieta (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley) racked up 8 kills with a .438 attack percentage. Ferrucci added 6 kills, while junior Adriana Spucches (Red Hook, NY/Red Hook) added 3 kills and Carrozzi added 5 kills. Liebig added 24 setting assists with 4 aces and a dig as the gators bettered the aces from the first match, posting 27 against Yeshiva in the nightcap.
Sophomore Allison Bardwell (Whately, MA/Frontier Regional) had a personal-best 11 aces, while newcomer Nicole Groll (Southington, CT/Southington) connected for 8 aces and 6 digs.
After Sunday's matches, the Gator seniors continue their personal climb in the Sage women's volleyball record books. Liebig now has moved into the No. 2 spot on the career setting assist list as she now boasts 2,984 and moved ahead of Joanie Cooney (2010-2013, 2,973). She is poised to become just the second played in program history to achieve 3,000 career setting assists. She also now has 187 career aces and is No. 4 in aces as a Gator.
Berard who ranks in both career kills and blocks at Sage now has 817 career kills and stands No. 7 all-time in kills. She has 145 career total blocks is in sole possession of the No. 8 spot at Sage. Schneiderman now has 893 career digs and is No. 17 at Sage on the career record book. Campolieta checks in with 456 career kills and is now 16th all-time having moved ahead of Johanna Eckl (1997-2000, 453). She also has 777 career digs and is looking to move into the program's Top 25 soon in career digs.
Sage is back in action on October 13 when they travel to Vassar College for a 7 p.m. non-conference match with the Brewers.