SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Junior Gillian Gore became the ninth player in program history to record 1,000 career kills, but it was not enough as the Union College women's volleyball team fell to SUNY New Paltz by a 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-22) score on day one of the Skidmore College Invitational on Friday.
 
Gore had a good night to lead Union (12-13), leading all players with both her 15 kills and 21 digs to become only the sixth Dutchwoman to reach quadruple figures in three seasons. After reaching 1,000 digs last week, she is only the fourth player in program history to record 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs as well, joining Hall of Famer Gretchen Voegler '97, Corrin Jordan '03 and Eve Richards '12. Gore jumped up from 11th to ninth on the school career kills list, and now sits 29 back of Voegler in eighth place.
 
Fellow junior Lara Atalay also reached double figures with 12 kills, while classmate Kaylee Velasquez chipped in 16 digs as well.
 
Entering the night 10 kills away from the milestone, Gore nearly reached the mark in the opening set, as she put down eight of Union's 15 kills – including four in a row that nearly dug the Dutchwomen out of a 21-15 hole. Union got back within one at 23-22, but two points from the Hawks gave them the opening set.
 
Gore reached the 1,000 mark with her final swing of the second set, but that was Union's last point in the final five as New Paltz closed on a 4-1 run to take a two-set lead.
 
New Paltz looked to have the third set in hand thanks to a 10-2 run that opened up a 16-9 advantage, but Union responded with a 7-1 run that got the Dutchwomen back within a point at 17-16. Union came all the way back to tie the score at 22, but three straight points gave New Paltz the set and the match.
 
Union will close out the 2019 season tomorrow with two more matches at Skidmore, taking on Plattsburgh State University and SUNY Potsdam beginning at 10 a.m.