SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Despite a phenomenal effort from first-year
Shannon McGrath, the Union College women's volleyball team could not close out SUNY Potsdam in a 3-2 (14-25, 22-25, 26-24, 25-21, 15-11) defeat on day one of the Skidmore Invitational on Friday night at the Williamson Center.
Coming back from missing the last six matches, McGrath had a huge effort with 25 kills and 18 digs. Her 25 kills are the most kills by a Union player since Rachel Ormsby '10 put down 25 in a five-setter against Fredonia State University on September 29, 2007. Junior
Keara Page also matched her career high with 15 kills, while senior
Haley Kresch led all players with 31 assists and junior
Denali Douglas added a team-best 20 digs.
The news was not all bad for Union (10-14) on the evening, as Skidmore College's 3-2 loss to Rochester Institute of Technology moved Union one big step closer to clinching a postseason berth. If William Smith College defeats St. Lawrence University tomorrow, Union would head to the postseason for the first time since 2016 as the sixth seed.
Union looked good through the first two sets of the evening, putting down 29 kills to Potsdam's 12 to take a two-set lead. The Dutchwomen jumped out to a 5-1 lead and never trailed in the opening frame, eventually using a 6-0 run to close out the set. The second set was closer, but with the score tied at 17, a kill by senior
Denesha Lafontant and two by McGrath kicked off a 7-1 run that helped to finish off the second stanza.
Union was one point from victory up 24-22 in the third set, but three errors kept Potsdam alive and sent the match into a fourth frame. Union led for much of the next set as well and held a late 21-20 lead before five straight Potsdam points brought the teams to a decisive fifth set.
The Bears jumped out to a quick 6-1 lead in the final frame. Union battled back to get within a point at 9-8, but the team could not get back to even as Potsdam managed to mostly alternate points to finish off the comeback.
Union will close out the regular season tomorrow with two matches at Skidmore, taking on Plattsburgh State University at 10 a.m. and Russell Sage College at 2 p.m.
