Gators Battle Back to Defeat Visiting Bard, 3-2

ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College received contributions throughout the lineup to defeat visiting Bard 3-2 tonight in the Kahl Gymnasium.

2021 Sage Women's Volleyball
September 21, 2021

ALBANY, N.Y. –  Russell Sage College erased a 2-1 deficit to defeat visiting Bard 3-2 tonight inside the Kahl Gymnasium. The Gators (4-9), winners by scores of 26-24, 17-25, 19-25, 25-17, 19-17, received contributions throughout the lineup to earn the non-conference triumph.

Senior outside hitter Emma Parkington (Dalton, MA/Wahconah Regional) and senior middle hitter Celia Gagnon (Troy, NY/Ichabod Crane) recorded 11 kills apiece. Parkington elevated 11 Raptor attacks for the 13th double-double of her career, and fourth this autumn, while Gagnon hit .241 and aced three serves. Sophomore right side Sydney Dohr (Chatham, NY/Chatham) added eight kills on .375 hitting and three total blocks, both season-highs, while  sophomore right side Statia Walker (Schodack, NY/Maple Hill) registered 26 assists and 11 digs for her seventh double-double of the fall. Junior defensive specialist Elaina Moisidis (Albany, NY/Albany) once again was in double figures in digs with a team-high 20.
 

RSC battled throughout the five sets. In the opening stanza, the Gators trailed 24-22, before reeling off four-straight points to take the frame. Sage managed to trim a six-point deficit to one in both the second and third periods but was unable to get past the final hurdles. Down 2-1, RSC came out strong in its attempt to extend the match, taking an early 10-4 lead. The Gators kept Bard at bay from there, not permitting the visitors, which hit -.174 in the frame, to get any closer than four to set up the deciding set.

Riding the wave of momentum, Sage got out to early advantages of 5-1 and 8-3 in the decisive stanza. The Raptors didn't go quietly back down 87, clawing their way back to force a half a dozen deadlocks late. Eventually, the Gators capitalized upon a pair of Bard attack errors to clinch the home win.         

Sophomore outside hitter Ryan Lum led the Raptors with 17 kills on .457 hitting and 21 digs. Sophomore middle hitter Anna Skamser contributed 12 kills on .346 hitting, while sophomore setter Adi David dished out 44 assists.

Looking ahead, Sage opens Empire 8 Conference play on Friday when Nazareth visits Kahl Gymnasium .The contest is slated to begin at 7:00 pm. Meanwhile, Bard (3-7) commences its Liberty League schedule on Friday at 4:00 pm at Union.
Notes: Parkington ranks fifth in the Empire 8 with 2.70 kills per-set...She recorded her 500th career kill on Saturday, September 11 at SUNY New Paltz...The co-captain currently has 590 career kills...Moisidis, who has been in double figures in digs for all but one of the matches this fall, sits third in E8 with 4.63 digs per-set...She registered her 500th career dig on Saturday, September 11 at SUNY New Paltz and currently has 627 digs in her time as a Gator...Walker is sixth in the conference with 6.14 assists per-set.

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