Schenectady, NY----The Sage Colleges women’s volleyball team opened their 2010 season on Friday night at Union’s Viniar Athletic Center. Sage opened the campaign facing Union College, then took on Skidmore College. Union tallied a 3-0 win over the Gators in the opener (25-18, 25-15, 25-18). Skidmore tallied a pair of wins as they first beat Union and then handed Sage a 3-0 loss (25-14, 25-21, 25-15). Sage drops to 0-2, while Skidmore is now 2-0 and Union stands at 1-1.

The Dutchwomen won by scores of 25-18, 25-15, and 25-18 against the Gators. With the final set in the balance, Union won six consecutive points on Eve Richards’ serve to take a 13-6 lead. The Gators closed within four points at 17-13, but the Dutchwomen ran off five consecutive points for a 22-13 lead. Union closed out the match with kills from Rebecca Knepple and Richards on two out of the last three points.

In the Gators’ first match of the year against Union, Sage would benefit from 14 kills by senior middle hitter Nicole Corbett (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia), while junior libero Kelsey Wilson (Schenectady, NY/Bishop Gibbins) added 15 digs.  Sage’s rookie setter Joanie Cooney (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) added 20 assists in her collegiate debut, while another volleyball first-timer, junior outside hitter Jennifer Ahearn (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) added seven kills.

Against the Thoroughbreds, Sage would be led by 16 digs recorded by Wilson, while sophomore defensive specialist, Kelsey Newberg (New Britain, CT/New Britain) added six digs. Cooney backed up her first match’s highs with 15 assists and five digs, while Corbett had four kills.

The Gators will travel to Vassar College on Tuesday, September 7 for a non-conference match commencing at 7 p.m.