CANTON, N.Y. – Led by a career-high 24 kills from sophomore Lara Atalay, the Union College women's volleyball team closed out Liberty League play with a thrilling 3-2 (25-17, 19-25, 18-25, 25-23, 15-11) comeback victory over St. Lawrence University on Saturday afternoon at Burkham Gymnasium.
 
Atalay had a huge match for Union (14-9, 3-4 Liberty League), as her 24 kills are tied for the most by a Dutchwoman since at least 2007; the sophomore added 17 digs for her team-leading 13th double-double of the year. Classmate Steph Libonati added 13 kills on .346 hitting, while fellow sophomore Sage Shimamoto also recorded a double-double with a match-high 43 assists and 10 digs.
 
The day started well for Union, as the visitors used a 10-1 run to take the first set. Libonati and Atalay put down four kills apiece to lead Union in the set.
 
St. Lawrence bounced back to take the next two frames, but Union was not done. St. Lawrence was five points from victory up 20-15 in the fourth, but Atalay put down four straight kills as part of a 5-0 run that tied the score. After another Atalay kill knotted the score at 22, back-to-back kills from seniors Alaina Thaxter and Emma Sprotbery brought up set point and Libonati set the match to a fifth frame.
 
The fifth set was knotted up at four before four straight SLU errors put Union in control. Atalay put an appropriate end to the match with her 24th kill of the day on match point.
 
With the win, Union finishes in a tie for fifth place in the Liberty League with Skidmore College, just one match out of a postseason spot.

Union will return home for the final two home matches of the season this week, beginning on Tuesday with a 7 p.m. match against The Sage Colleges at Viniar Athletic Center.