SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Despite starting the match strong by taking the first set, the Union College women's volleyball team could not keep up the momentum in dropping a 3-1 (22-25, 25-21, 25-19, 25-23) match to Skidmore College in both teams' Liberty League opener on Friday night at the Williamson Sports Center.
 
Six players had at least five kills for Union (6-6, 0-1 Liberty League), led by senior Keara Page with a season- and match-high 11 and first-year Maddie McCarron with 10 kills on .304 hitting and four blocks. First-year Sydney Scanlon recorded a game-high 21 assists and sophomore Georgia Pool recorded a match-best 18 digs.
 
Maya Stolarz led Skidmore (7-5, 1-0 Liberty League) with 10 kills while Ella Harris chipped in five kills and seven blocks.
 
The teams combined for 10 ties during a back-and forth opening frame. Skidmore used a 4-0 run to take a 21-18 lead, and the visitors still trailed by three before a Thoroughbred service error was followed by five straight points on the serve of sophomore Shannon McGrath to give Union the opening frame.
 
Union jumped out to an early 7-3 lead in the second set, but the home team slowly crept back into the set and then used a 10-2 run to take its first lead at 18-15 and eventually even the match at one. The third set followed a similar script, as Union held a 15-13 lead at the midway point only to see Skidmore score nine of the next 10 points to take control and grab a 2-1 lead.
 
Skidmore started the fourth frame on a 12-4 run and Union was never unable to get back to even. The visitors nearly pulled off a huge comeback, staving off seven match points to turn a 24-16 deficit into a 24-23 disadvantage, but the Thoroughbreds converted on their eighth chance to finish off the match.
 
Union will return to action tomorrow, heading to the North Country to take on St. Lawrence University at 2 p.m.