SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Junior
Denesha Lafontant led all players with a career-high 11 kills on .444 hitting as the Union College women's volleyball team overcame a sluggish start to defeat SUNY Oneonta, 3-1 (10-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-23) on day one of the Union/Russell Sage Crosstown Crossover on Friday night at Viniar Athletic Center.
Lafontant had a great effort for Union (4-6) in the win, surpassing her previous career-best of eight kills with 11 on just 18 attempts to go with two blocks. Sophomore
Keara Page added eight kills, while senior
Jessica Siragusa chipped in six kills, 11 digs and a block. Sophomore
Brooke Fleming just missed her first career double-double as well, registering 24 assists and nine digs to go with four service aces and a block.
The first set did not go well for the home team, as Oneonta scored the match's first nine points and led by as many as 16 in taking the early lead. The Dutchwomen had trouble getting off the block of Ashanti Davis and Caitlin Christie, who totaled a combined 11 blocks in helping the Red Dragons take the first set.
Things changed quickly in the second set, however, as Union jumped out to an early 6-2 lead. The teams went back-and-forth for most of the set, with nine ties and seven lead changes allowing neither side to break free. A 6-1 run gave the home team a 19-15 lead, but Oneonta came right back with five straight points to retake the lead. The visitors still led by one at 22-21 before Union closed with four straight points, getting a big kill by Lafontant and an ace from junior
Julia Webster to close it out.
The Dutchwomen again jumped out to an early lead in the third, scoring 11 of the first 15 points, but this time never let Oneonta back into the set.
Union used a 5-0 run midway through the fourth frame to take a 17-11 lead, and the home team managed to withstand an Oneonta squad that got within a point on three occasions but could never get back to even. A Lafontant kill got Union its first match point at 24-22, and an Oneonta service error handed Union the set and the match.
The Dutchwomen will be back at Viniar tomorrow for day two of the Union/Russell Sage Crosstown Crossover, beginning with a 10 a.m. match against Hartwick College.
