SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's volleyball team had a pair of one-set leads, but the Garnet Chargers could not close out William Smith College in a tough 3-2 (21-25, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13) defeat in Liberty League action on Friday night at Viniar Athletic Center.
The loss drops Union (12-10, 2-4 Liberty League) into a tie for sixth place in the conference standings with two matches remaining. As a result, the Garnet Chargers face a likely must-win tomorrow against Rochester Institute of Technology in the home finale beginning at 2 p.m.
Several Union players had big efforts on Friday, led by sophomore
Shannon McGrath with a team-leading 19 kills to go with 14 digs. Classmate
Georgia Pool tied for the match-high with 25 digs, and first-year
Sydney Scanlon had a big double-double with a season-high 40 assists and 20 digs. Fellow first-year
Graciela Escobar added 11 kills and classmate
Maddie McCarron notched nine kills and five blocks.
William Smith (11-8, 4-2 Liberty League) was paced by Malya Sayre with 23 kills and 20 digs, as well as Maysie Malinaric with 25 digs. Maren Hunt was huge at the net for the Herons, recording 12 blocks as part of a William Smith unit that produced 18 total blocks.
Union built up an 14-7 lead to begin the first set, which was the largest lead that either side would have for the remainder of the evening. The Herons closed to within two on three occasions, but Union used a late 4-1 min-run to take the early lead.
The home team jumped out to an 8-3 advantage to start the second stanza, but the Herons came back with eight straight points as part of a 10-1 run that made it a 13-9 score in favor of the visitors. Union battled back to tie the score at 23 after an Escobar kill, but a Sayre kill and a block gave the set to the Herons.
After taking the third set, Union was only six points away from victory with a 19-15 lead in the fourth frame. However, William Smith closed on a decisive 10-2 run to send the match to a fifth set. A 7-3 run gave Union its last lead of the night at 11-10 in the final frame and the home team still clung to a lead at 13-12, but back-to-back kills by Sayre and a Union attack error gave the set and the match to the Herons.
Union will close out the home schedule tomorrow at 2 p.m. against Rochester Institute of Technology.
