Albany, NY- The Sage Colleges' women's volleyball hosted the Pioneers of Utica College on Thursday night in an Empire 8 match at Kahl Gym. Sage collected the 3-1 win to earn the program's first win in Empire 8 play as the newest member of the conference and is now 7-18 overall and 1-5 in the league. Utica falls to 5-16 overall and 0-6 in the conference. Utica won the first set, 25-21, but Sage took the next three sets 25-21, 25-16, 25-22 to earn the win.
Rookie outside hitter Gabby Rowell (Morrisonville, NY/Beekmantown) had a double-double to lead Sage to the win as she racked up 15 kills and 14 digs with one block assist and a team-best 16.5 points in the match.
Sage's senior Alyssa Nellis (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) added 19 setting assists with 17 digs, six aces, and seven kills with 13 points in the contest. Senior libero Missy Schneiderman (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) led the team with her 27 digs and had six aces as well in the contest.
Sophomore outside hitter Jessica Carrozzi (Warnerville, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) added eight kills with two aces and four digs, while junior outside hitter Amelia Taylor (Fort Edward, NY/Fort Edward) added seven kills.
Utica's junior outside hitter Hannah Voss (St. Louis, MO) led the Pioneers with her 11 kills and added a double-double with 19 digs and 11.5 points. Junior middle hitter Nicole Herringhshaw (Syracuse, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) had 12.5 points after racking up eight kills with three aces, three digs and three block assists.
Senior defensive specialist Abigail Mosenthin (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) had 20 digs for Utica with two aces, while junior Marissa Faroni (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) added 13 digs with 13 setting assists, with an ace and one kills.
The Gator seniors continue their march up the Sage women's volleyball record book. Nellis is currently 18th all-time with her 447 career kills, while ranking No. 6 now in career total blocks with 178. She is now No. 10 in career setting assists with 342. Schneiderman has 1,337 career digs and currently fifth on the Sage dig list, while adding 128 career aces and moved into 13th place ahead of both Sara Campolieta (122, 2013-2016), and Kristin Seaburg (126, 2000-2003) on Wednesday night.
The Gators return to play on October 18 hosting SUNY-Polytech in a non-conference match at 7 p.m. in Kahl Gym. Utica College is back in action on October 14 hosting Bryn Mawr College and SUNY-Delhi in a non-conference tri-match at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday.