SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Dutchwomen drop their opening conference game as the Thoroughbreds defeat Union 3-1 (16-25, 25-17, 12-25, 19-25) at the Viniar Athletic Center Tuesday evening.

Union fell behind early as the Thoroughbreds gained a quick 3-0 lead. The Dutchwomen were able to inch closer, which was highlighted, by a Rachel Wyman kill and a combo block by Lauren Woods and Nora Wood to make it 5-3. However, Skidmore was able to open the lead with great play by Elise Finnerty. The Thoroughbreds extended their lead to 16-9 as the Dutchwomen struggled to gather momentum and eventually dropped the set 25-16.

Woods and Wyman began to take over the second set with timely blocks and spikes as the Dutchwomen bolted out to a 6-2 lead. Skidmore struggled to find an answer as Union padded their lead to 16-10. Skidmore was looking to rally back in the second set as Natalie Nagle and Aria Goodman kept the Thoroughbreds within striking distance. However, the Dutchwomen were able to hold on and take the second set highlighted by great defense from Marissa Vollmer and Wood to take the second set 25-17.

With both teams even entering the third set, Skidmore was looking to capture the lead again as the Thoroughbreds held the early advantage 5-2. Union struggled to gather consistency in their offense as Skidmore added to the lead to make it 8-2. After exchanging the next four points, Skidmore tallied another 3-0 run to open the Thoroughbred lead to seven. Both teams continued to exchange points as Union took a timeout trailing 18-9. The Dutchwomen were able to organize but struggled to score against the line of Carolyn Bottelier, Corinne Palmer and Finnerty to take the third set 12-25.
Both teams were locked at five early in the fourth set. Neither team gave ground as each team-exchanged point at nine all. The Thoroughbreds began to pull it away as they finessed their shots in the middle of the Union defense.  Skidmore's defense prevailed in the midst of the fourth set as the Thoroughbreds were able sustain the Union attack. Skidmore was able to string together another run and open up a 21-13 lead. The Dutchwomen began to rally as the Thoroughbreds lead was cut down to five. Despite Union's efforts, the Thoroughbreds were able to hold on to win the final set 25-19.

Rachel Wyman paced the Dutchwomen with 17 kills shared with Skidmore's Corinne Palmer. Mackenzie Westfall had a team high 34 assists while Vollmer led the Union defense with 17 assists. Lauren Woods tallied five block assists in the losing effort.

The Thoroughbreds were led by Corinne Palmer with 17 kills while teammate Elise Finnerty trailed with 14 kills. Mallory Mendelsohn converted 44 assists in the winning effort while Sam Friedman and Emma Wilburg had 21 digs and 20 respectively.

The Dutchwomen will be traveling to Saratoga Springs, N.Y. next to take on conference foes Vassar and St. Lawrence on September 28 while the Thoroughbreds will be against Trinity College and Amherst College in Amherst, Mass. on September 22.