SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's volleyball team staged a huge comeback to take the opening set, but the team could not keep up the momentum in dropping a 3-1 (25-27, 25-19, 25-16, 26-24) match to Vassar College in Liberty League action on Saturday afternoon at the Viniar Athletic Center.
 
Sophomore Lara Atalay had a big effort for Union (9-5, 1-1 Liberty League) in the defeat, putting down 16 kills on .405 hitting and also adding 17 digs. Classmate Gillian Gore had a double-double of her own with 12 kills and a team-best 19 digs, while fellow sophomore Sage Shimamoto added 47 assists and 10 digs as well.
 
Vassar looked to be in firm control on the opening set, using a 10-3 run to bring up set point leading 24-15. But Union staved off nine straight set points thanks to four kills from Atalay and two from sophomore Julia Louis, and eventually put away the set thanks to a kill and a block from sophomore Steph Libonati.
 
The Dutchwomen could not sustain its momentum however, as Vassar used a 6-2 run to close out the second stanza and then never trailed in taking the third set.
 
Union looked to be in control for much of the fourth frame, opening up a 19-12 lead and seemingly headed to a fifth set. The Dutchwomen were just two points away holding a 23-20 advantage, but Jane McLeod had three kills and a block as the Brewers ended the frame on a 6-1 run to secure the win.
 
Union hit .227 on the afternoon, putting down 55 kills on 150 attempts. Vassar hit .286 on the day with 62 kills on 168 attempts.
 
The Dutchwomen will take a break from Liberty League play on Thursday, when the team travels to Springfield College for a non-conference matchup starting at 7 p.m.