SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's volleyball team had St. Lawrence University on the ropes after taking the second and third sets, but the Dutchwomen could not close out the match in a 3-2 (25-20, 17-25, 15-25, 25-22, 15-9) defeat in Liberty League action on Friday night at the Viniar Athletic Center.
 
Junior Gillian Gore led Union (9-9, 0-4 Liberty League) with a solid all-around effort, putting down a team-best 16 kills while adding 19 digs and a match-high seven service aces. Classmate Lara Atalay also added a double-double with 11 kills and 16 digs, while fellow junior Kaylee Velasquez chipped in a match-best 20 digs.
 
Natalie Piper had a big match to lead St. Lawrence (17-4, 3-0 Liberty League), putting down a match-high 25 kills and adding a team-best 14 digs.
 
The Saints jumped out to an early lead with a red-hot opening set, hitting .483 with 16 kills on 29 attempts, but Union came back with two strong sets to take back the lead. In the second stanza, the home team trailed 9-6 before an 11-2 run put the Dutchwomen in control for good. Union then hit .303 in the third set, jumping out to a 15-5 lead and cruising to a win behind five kills and three aces from Gore.
 
The fourth frame was the most even of the night, with the teams giving back the lead before settling into ties at 16, 17 and 18-all. However, two Piper kills and two Union errors put the Saints in front and the visitors forced a decisive fifth frame.
 
Union recorded the first two points of the fifth set, but 10 of the next 11 went the way of St. Lawrence, thanks for five kills from Piper, to help take the final frame.
 
Union will return to conference play tomorrow at 2 p.m. when the Dutchwomen host Clarkson University.