Box Score (vs. Vassar College)

Box Score (vs. Clarkson)

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – On the first day of the Liberty League tournament, the Union College volleyball team began its title defense losing to host Vassar 1-3 and to Clarkson 0-3 on Friday.

Against Vassar

On the opening match of the Liberty League Volleyball tournament, the host was dominant, as second-seeded Vassar defeated fifth-seeded Union in three sets, 25-18, 25-16 and 25-20.

Vassar was the aggressor early on, following an attack error with five straight points to take a 5-1 lead in the first set. The Brewers went up 7-2 three points later on a Union reception error, and the Dutchwomen would not get closer than five points for the rest of the set.

Vassar's largest lead was eight, which it took when senior Tess Johnson kill made the score 24-16. Johnson finished off the first game three points later with her third kill of the game.

The second set started out 3-3, but Vassar took a 7-3 lead on four straight Union errors. The Brewers were unable to expand that lead, as Union's three 6-foot tall hitters, Eve Richards, Rachel Ormsby and Jordan Remillard, caused havoc in front of the net. Ormsby had consecutive kills and a block assist during one stretch, and Union was helped by two Vassar return errors to tie the game at 12.

Union took its first lead of the match 15-14 on another Vassar return error, but the Brewers inched back on top to take an 18-16 lead off a kill by Amy Bavosa. That brought freshman Hilary Koenigs to the service line, and Koenigs tallied seven straight points, including an ace that hit the tape and dropped untouched over the net to finish off the game, for the 25-16 win.

Vassar's efficiency sputtered a bit in set three. The Brewers made nine errors – compared to ten in the first two games combined – and maintained a one or two point lead for the majority of the game. The Dutchwomen took a 10-9 lead after three straight Brewer errors, and the game was tied at 11, 15, 18 and 19. However, Vassar yet again finished the game on a 5-1 run, and capped off the match with another Johnson kill.

Johnson led Vassar with 12 kills and only two errors, while freshman Chloe McGuire added ten kills and a team-high 11 digs. Koenigs had 34 assists, Bavosa had nine kills, and junior Chelsea Mottern had 10 digs.

Union was led by Ormsby's seven kills. Veronica Mynders tallied 17 digs, and Kimberly Armstrong had 14 assists.

Against Clarkson

Top seeded Clarkson emerged victorious over a resilient Union squad 3-1 (25-14, 25-22, 16-25, 26-24) behind a solid effort from sophomore outside hitter Sara Artus, and senior setter Jenna Stock. Artus led the Golden Knights with 23 kills, while Stock contributed 45 assists for Clarkson.

The first set saw Union jump out to a quick 7-3 lead before Clarkson battled back to take an 11-10 lead en route to a 25-14 victory. Artus had six kills in the set, and freshman outside hitter Courtney Haines added four kills for the Golden Knights. Stock had 12 assists in the set, which featured seven Golden Knight service aces, including two each from Artus and junior defensive specialist Alison Schroder.

Clarkson carried its momentum into the second set, jumping out to a quick 4-0 lead. Union battled to keep the match close, pulling within one at 13-12 off a Clarkson attack error. However, the No. 1 seed handled the pressure and extended its lead to 23-16, but Union won six of the final eight points in the match to make it close, drawing within three on a kill by sophomore Becky Hoeffler. With Union rallying, Clarkson closed out the set behind a kill from sophomore Megan Mahon. Once again, Artus and Stock keyed the Clarkson victory. Artus added another six kills, while Stock contributed another 11 assists.

Once again, momentum carried over from the previous set, this time in favor of the Dutchwomen. Both teams traded points early, however Union eventually gained a concrete advantage jumping out to a 15-7 lead, after the teams were tied at 5. The run was keyed by three kills from senior Rachel Ormsby and two service aces from senior Defensive Specialist Veronica Mynders. Each Ormsby kill was assisted by freshman setter Kimberly Armstrong. After jumping out to their 15-7 lead, Union never looked back, cruising to a 25-16 victory in the set.

The fourth and final set lived up to the conclusion of a dramatic match. Union started off red-hot, jumping out to an 8-3 lead; however, much like the first set, Clarkson battled back to tie the set at 10, and then take an 11-10 lead. This time, the Dutchwomen would not let the set slip away. The teams traded points, until Union took a 17-16 lead, extending that to a 21-18 advantage. Clarkson battled back from the deficit to take a 23-22 lead. The Clarkson run was keyed by two blocks from sophomore Middle-Blocker Rachel Simons, one of which was assisted by Mahon. The Golden Knights finally closed out Union at 26-24 off a kill from Mahon, which hit off a Union blocker before landing along the right sideline.

Clarkson was led by Artus with 23 kills and Mahon with 10, while Stock added 45 set assists. Schroeder led Clarkson with 21 digs, with Junior Amanda Rankin adding ten of her own. Sophomore Eve Richards led Union with 13 kills, with Ormsby adding ten. Armstrong finished with 29 assists for Union. Mynders led the Dutchwomen with 20 digs. Armstrong and Junior Erika Van Valkenburg each added 13 digs, while Richards finished with 12.

Union will play two more matches on Saturday. It will face St. Lawrence at 1 p.m., followed by Skidmore at 3 p.m.