SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Union College women's volleyball team earned a pair of victories to close out the 2023 Union/Russell Sage Crosstown Challenge on Saturday, posting 3-1 victories over Nichols College and Drew University at Viniar Athletic Center.
 
Sophomore Georgia Pool was named to the All-Tournament Team after racking up 33 digs, nine assists and five service aces on Saturday. Classmate Shannon McGrath paced the squad in both matches with 25 kills and 25 digs, while first-year Sydney Scanlon chipped in 40 assists and 26 digs on the day.
 
Union 3, Nichols 1 (21-25, 25-16, 25-20, 25-21)
 
Union started the day with a comeback victory over the Bison, dropping the first set before storming back to win the final three.
 
McGrath led the team with 10 kills and added 13 digs for the team's lone double-double of the contest. First-years Graciela Escobar and Maddie McCarron chipped in seven kills apiece and classmate Shelby McKim put down six kills as part of a well-rounded offensive effort. Pool's 15 digs led all players, while Scanlon had a team-leading 17 assists and senior Brooke Fleming added 14 assists and a match-high five aces.
 
Union 3, Drew 1 (25-21, 23-25, 25-22, 25-22)
 
Union finished off the day with a tough match against Drew, finally shaking off the Rangers in four sets. In total, the teams combined for 38 ties and 14 lead changes in the four sets, and neither team led by more than six points throughout the entirety of the match.
 
McGrath had another double-double with 15 kills and 13 digs, and she was complemented by senior Nikki Newcomer with a season-best 12 kills. Fellow senior Keara Page chipped in eight kills and three blocks, and Scanlon had a double-double of her own with 23 assists and 14 digs. Pool led Union with 18 digs.
 
After the teams split the opening two sets, the pivotal third frame featured 14 ties. After Drew tied the score at 11, the teams alternated the next 14 points to keep the score tied at 18 before three straight Union points made it a 21-18 score. Drew followed with, for this set, a huge run by scoring four in a row to take a 22-21 advantage; however, Union came back with the final four points to win the set on a pair of Pool aces.
 
The Garnet Chargers erased an early five-point deficit in the fourth set and the teams again fell into an alternating-point pattern, keeping the score tied at 18. But a 4-0 run gave the home team some breathing room and Union was able to essentially alternate points the rest of the way to complete the win.
 
Union will begin Liberty League play next weekend, beginning on Friday night with a 6 p.m. match at Skidmore College.