SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Union College women's volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on day two of the Skidmore College Classic on Saturday, falling to both SUNY Oneonta and Williams College by 3-1 scores at the Williamson Athletic Center.
 
First-year Shannon McGrath led Union (4-3) with 23 kills in the two matches, followed closely by junior Keara Page with 22 kills. Senior Haley Kresch had a team-best 38 assists in the eight sets, while sophomore Kirsten Litchfield added a team-leading 27 digs on the day.
 
Oneonta 3, Union 1 (25-21, 25-17, 15-25, 25-20)
 
McGrath and Page posted 10 kills apiece in the first match of the day, but the rest of the team had just 15 kills as Union fell in four sets to Oneonta.
 
The teams stayed close for the opening portion of the first set, with a kill by senior Julia Webster tying the score for the sixth time at 11. However, Union managed consecutive points only twice the rest of the way to fall behind early. The second set followed a similar script, as the teams were tied at 13 before Oneonta went on a decisive 10-1 run to help take a two-set lead.
 
The Red Dragons looked to be in position to complete the sweep after jumping out to an 8-1 lead in the third set, but Union responded with 11 straight points – including four Webster aces – to take back the lead and stay alive in the match. However, the fourth set reverted to the previous pattern, with Oneonta surging ahead after Union battled back to tie the score at 14.
 
Williams 3, Union 1 (25-18, 25-16, 22-25, 25-19)
 
Union hit well in the second match of the day, but the team could not overcome a strong Williams side that hit .398 in a four-set defeat.
 
McGrath had 13 kills, followed by Page with 12 put downs and Webster with nine kills; however, Marit Hoyem had 24 kills to lead the Ephs to the win.
 
Union hung tough with the Ephs for much of the match, but could not capitalize on several pivotal points. The team did show some fight in the third set, battling back from a 12-5 deficit to force a fourth frame.
 
Union will begin the home portion of its schedule with two matches on day one of the Union/Russell Sage Crosstown Challenge, beginning with a 4 p.m. matchup against SUNY Oneonta on Friday.