Oneonta, NY–The Sage Colleges' women's volleyball team visited the Red Dragons of Oneonta State on Wednesday evening for a non-conference match. Oneonta State tallied a 3-0 win (25-22, 25-19, 25-23) improving to 13-15, while Sage drops to 15-16.
In the first set, senior Jessica Pelaccio (Verplanck, NY/Hendrick Hudson) would open up the set with three straight points. Sage would call their first timeout after three points were scored on Melissa Voyer (Baldwinsville, NY/C.W. Baker)'s serve, with Oneonta winning 11-5. The Red Dragons would come out of the timeout and score on a Paige Carpluk (Yaphank, NY/Bellport) kill to give the Red Dragons a 12-5 lead. Sage would start to chip away at the lead on junior Alyssa Neillis' (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) serve scoring four straight points to put the score at 12-9 Oneonta. The Red Dragons would maintain a three point lead until with the score at 20-17, the Red Dragons would breakout to expand their lead to five 22-17. The Red Dragons would go on to win 25-22 off of a Sage attack error.
The second set would start in Sage's favor scoring the first three points off of senior Sara Campolieta's (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley) serve. The Red Dragons would answer on Pelaccio's serve including a serve ace for three points (3-3). Sage would take their first timeout trailing 11-9. Coming out of the timeout, Sage would add a point to their total to put the score at 11-10. The game would shift in favor of the Red Dragons 14-10, but Sage would rally to take four points of their own forcing Oneonta to use their first timeout. The Red Dragons would go on to win the match 25-19 on a kill by senior Gabrielle Eppolito (Hamburg, NY/Hamburg) assisted by freshman Jessica Fowler (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills).
Oneonta would hold the service in the third set, and on the Pelaccio serve Sage would have an attack error for the first point of the set. The set would stay within two points until Sage would gain a three point lead 12-15 causing Oneonta to call a timeout. Coming out of the timeout Oneonta would score off of an Erika Corbin (Kirkwood, NY/Windsor) kill, to cut the lead to 13-15. Sage would answer back and gain a four point lead 14-18, Oneonta would use their second timeout. Oneonta would come back and take the lead, 21-19. The Red Dragons would go on to win the match 25-23.
For the night, Sage's senior outside Michayla Berard (Binghamton, NY/Susquehanna Valley) and Campolieta led the Gators with their nine kills apiece, while Breard added one dig and a solo block. Campolieta racked up two aces with 14 digs and a pair of blocks. Nellis finished the action with three kills. Junior defensive specialist Missy Schneiderman (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) had 10 digs as well, while graduate performer Katy Rimawi (Ballston Spa, NY/Ballston Spa) added e digs, with two aces and 4 kills. Senior setter Rachel Liebig (Hartford, NY/Hartford) amassed 29 setting assists with 2 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Amelia Taylor (Fort Edward, NY/Fort Edward) also had3 kills in the competition, while rookie Nicole Groll (Southington, CT/Southington) finished with 15 digs.
With every match this season, the 2016 Gators are attacking the program's record book. After tonight's match Berard has 923 career kills, which ranks No. 6 all-time at Sage. She also boasts 160 career total blocks, moving her into No. 8 in the list. Liebig, who is a CoSIDA Academic All-District nominee, now has 3,209 career setting assists which No. 2 at Sage, while also adding 198 career aces to her resume. She is fourth in career aces, while also adding 580 career digs. Campolieta has 516 career kills and is 14th at Sage, while her 887 career digs puts her 18th on the career list. Scheiderman has 990 career digs and is closing in on the program's 1,000 career dig list, which boasts 13 members.
Sage is back in action on October 29 hosting a Skyline Conference tri-match in Kahl Gym. Sage will host Sarah Lawrence College at 11 a.m. as well as St. Joseph's College-LI in a 3 p.m. match. Prior to the first match of the day, Sage will honor their five seniors in conjunction with Senior Day.
