ALBANY, N.Y. – On the first day of the Crosstown Challenge, Russell Sage College split a pair of non-conference home matches. The Gators (6-4) defeated SUNY Oneonta 3-1 (28-30, 25-16, 25-23, 25-15) and fell to Williams 3-0 (25-20, 25-10, 25-15).

After dropping an opening set that featured 14 ties and seven lead changes to the visiting Red Dragons, RSC took the next three sets to secure the non-conference win.  The Gators hit. 269 as a team and aced 21 serves.

Senior outside hitter Macey Salvione (Johnstown, NY/Gloversville), who began the day ranked second in the Empire 8 Conference with 4.11 kills per-set, registered 17 kills on. 282 hitting, nine aces and six digs.

Junior middle hitter Aniyah Kelley (Newcastle, DE/William Penn) added 12 kills on .375 hitting, and three total blocks, while junior outside hitter Ashleigh Gerkman (Valatie, NY/Ichabod Crane) matched her uniform number with 11 kills.

Setter Emma Rainville (Castleton, NY/Columbia/Binghamton), a grad student, passed out 44 assists, while senior libero Katelyn Atchinson (Alplaus, NY/Niskayuna/Saint Rose) tallied 15 digs.

Freshman outside hitter McKenna Law (Burnt Hills, NY) topped SUNY Oneonta (5-4) with 12 kills on .200 hitting.

RSC received multiple kills from five different players against the Ephs (3-2).

The Crosstown Challenge concludes tomorrow with the Gators hosting Suffolk and SUNY Oswego. The tri-match is slated to  begin at 11:00 AM.

Gator Bites: A dozen Gators returned to the court in 2024…Salvione, middle hitter Monalissa Carius (Hudson, NY/Hudson), a grad student, and Kelley headlined the group…Head Coach Rosilyn Cummings added four newcomers including transfers Atchinson and Rainville to the squad…Cummings will be inducted into the SUNY Plattsburgh Athletic Hall of Fame on September 27…Savlione commenced the week ranked second in the Empire 8 Conference with 3.92 kills per-set, while Atchinson was third on the circuit with 4.08 digs per-set.