Schenectady, NY - Union College hosted Sage's women's volleyball team on Tuesday night in conjunction with the teams' annual Crankin' For a Cure match. The host Dutchwomen tallied a 3-1 win (25-13, 25-18, 21-25, 25-20) and improve to 15-9 overall, while the loss puts Sage at 16-6 on the season.
Union jumped out to an 8-3 lead to begin the first set. Rachel Wyman provided the spark with a pair of service aces to start things off. Kelsey Ray kept the Gators within four with a service ace of her own. Wyman was able to give the Dutchwomen a seven-point lead at 14-7 with a couple of thunderous strikes. After a Sage timeout, the Dutchwomen responded with a five point run at 22-10. Kelley White was able to help Union close out the first set 25-13 with a kill to take the first game.
The service game for the Dutchwomen helped Union build a 7-3 lead in the second set with aces from Rajpreet Dhaliwal and Wyman. Sage's freshman Mickey Mango (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) and the Gators kept pace with good defense but the Union attack would not let up. Carissa Vazzana and Dhaliwal connected on a great dig and spike to extend the lead to 16-8. Sophomore Helen Putriment (Troy, NY/Cobleskill Richmondville), rookie Kelsey Ray (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) and Mango started to rally the Gators after a Sage timeout. However, the Dutchwomen were able to trade off points to take the second set 25-18.
Sage kept it close in the third set as the Gators trailed 6-4. Sophomore libero Katelyn Drollette (Cadyville, NY/Saranac) cut the deficit to one with a service ace. Rookie Morgan Robinson (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) and Shannon Hughes exchanged kills as Union clung on to a one-point lead. Points from junior setter Joanie Cooney (Ballston Lake, NY/Shenendehowa) and Robinson gave Sage their first lead of the match at 10-9. Putriment and Robinson were able to take the Gators on a quick run to make it 16-12. After a Dutchwomen timeout, Union was able to slice the lead in half. Union's 18th point was well earned as each team exchanged a vicious rally with Dhaliwal's block to be the deciding factor. Kills from Wood and Hughes inched the Dutchwomen within one. However, Mango and Drollette aided a 5-1 run for the Gators to take set three 25-21.
The Gators held the slight advantage in the fourth set 6-5. An ace by Kim Armstrong was brought the set on even terms at seven. Union remained close as the Gators etched a one-point lead at 12-11. The Dutchwomen were able to regain the lead for the first time since the second set with a 17-14 lead.
Sage's defense aided the Gators back within one at 17-16. Lauren Woods made her mark on the night as the Dutchwomen rebuilt their lead to six at 22-16 with a mixture of defense and offense from the hitter. Dhaliwal capped off the fourth set with a kill to take the final set 25-20.
Sage returns to action on Friday and Saturday, October 12 and 13 when they compete at the Ithaca College Invitational. Sage will face the host Ithaca College Bombers and SUNY-Potsdam on Friday, while facing Wells College and St. Lawrence University on Saturday.
