ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College began its weekend hosting the Crosstown Challenge by dropping a pair of non-conferences matches.
The Gators started the weekend by being edged by Nichols 3-2 (25-27, 25-23, 25-23, 15-25, 12-15).
RSC had three players register double-digit kills across the five sets. Middle hitter Celia Gagnon (Troy, NY/Ichabod Crane), a graduate student, led the trio with 14 kills. Junior right side Caitlin Hammecker (Warnerville, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) tossed in 11, while junior outside hitter Sydney Shepard (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) added 10.
Junior setter Statia Walker (Schodack, NY/Maple Hill) contributed 35 assists, four aces and 19 digs, while senior defensive specialist Elaina Moisidis (Albany, NY/Albany), who surpassed 1,000 career digs earlier this month, elevated 21 Bison attacks.
Nichols (8-1) received double-digit kills from four players. Freshman right side/setter Kya Burdier totaled 11 kills, 32 assists, and eight digs to pace the victors.
In the nightcap, SUNY Plattsburgh defeated RSC 3-1 (25-19, 18-25, 17-25, 21-25).
Gagnon paced the Gators with 16 kills on .286 hitting. Walker tallied another double-double, her sixth of the fall, dishing out 23 assists and recorded 10 digs. Sophomore right side Savannah Petersen (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) topped RSC with 16 digs, while Moisidis added 15 digs.
Junior outside hitter Payton Zophy (Clifton Park, NY/Shen) led the Cardinals (4-3) with 18 kills and 21 digs.
The Gators (2-9) conclude the weekend by hosting SUNY Oneonta and Misericordia on Saturday. The tri-match is set to start at 10:00 AM.
Notes: Head coach Sandy Augstein-Collins, picked up her 375th career victory on September 14 vs. SUNY Cobleskill…She began her 13th season coaching at RSC and 26th overall, with 373 career wins…Seven players, including Moisidis, Gagnon, and Walker, returned to the program…Moisidis topped the Empire 8 Conference with 492 digs, 4.82 per-set, last fall, became the 15th RSC player to surpass 1,000 career digs earlier this month.
Gator Day of Giving: On Wednesday, September 21, the Russell Sage College community will join together for our seventh annual 24-hour giving challenge – Sage Gives. Save the date and help support more than 300 Gator student-athletes. For more information visit: https://www.sagegators.com/
#SageNation