SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's volleyball team gave AVCA #19 Ithaca College all it could handle on Saturday afternoon, but the Bombers eventually escaped with a 3-2 (19-25, 25-20, 25-17, 30-32, 15-8) victory over the Dutchwomen in a hard-fought battle at the Viniar Athletic Center.
 
Union (10-8, 2-3 Liberty League) played as well as it could against last year's national semifinalists, but just came up short in the final frame. Sophomore Gillian Gore led the Dutchwomen with 15 kills and 14 digs, while classmate Lara Atalay also had a double-double with 13 kills and a match-high 27 digs. Fellow sophomore Sage Shimamoto also had a good day, recording 45 assists as well as five kills on 10 errorless attacks.
 
Ithaca (12-5, 4-0 Liberty League) was paced by Reagan Stone, who put down 31 kills while adding a team-best 19 digs. Katie Evans chipped in with 16 kills, while Caitlyn Floyd had a double-double with 57 assists and 15 digs.
 
Union came out strong to start the match, winning six of the first seven points to force an early Ithaca timeout. The Dutchmen never trailed in the frame, using a 7-1 run to turn a 9-8 lead into a 17-9 commanding advantage.
 
Although the Bombers took the next two sets, Union showed heart with a gritty performance in the fourth set. The Dutchwomen again started strong, eventually grabbing a 16-8 lead and leading for most of the frame. Ithaca fought off two set points, but after another Bomber point Union stayed alive on match point to even the set at 25. The teams alternated points for the next six, then sophomore Steph Libonati put down a kill to fight off a second match point and tie the set at 29. Sophomore Katie Moss then took over, putting down one kill to save another match point then adding the next two kills to keep Union alive.
 
The momentum could not carry into the fifth frame for the Dutchwomen, as Union jumped out to a 5-2 lead and eventually took the set and the match.
 
Union is back in action next weekend, when the team heads to Oswego State for three matches. The Dutchwomen open the weekend on Friday night against Oneonta.