CANTON, N.Y. – The Union College women's volleyball team finished on the right end of three close sets as the Garnet Chargers got back to even in Liberty League play with a key 3-0 (25-21, 29-27, 25-22) victory over St. Lawrence University on Saturday afternoon at Burkman Gymnasium.
 
Coming off a tough loss yesterday, Union (8-6, 1-1 Liberty League) was able to refocus and come away with a tight win on Saturday. Sophomore Shannon McGrath led the team with a double-double of 12 kills and 14 digs, and was nearly joined in double digits by senior Keara Page with nine kills. First-year Maddie McCarron added seven kills and a match-high four blocks, while sophomore Georgia Pool led all players with 18 digs.
 
Union looked to be in trouble in the opening frame after the Saints went on a 7-0 run to take a 16-10 lead, but the visitors reversed the tide quickly. A 7-1 stint of their own knotted the score at 17 and, after two SLU points, the Garnet Chargers closed on an 8-2 run that secured the first set.
 
The second stanza was the most pivotal of the afternoon. Facing a 21-18 deficit, a McGrath kill and an ace by first-year Sydney Scanlon helped to even the match at 21, after which the teams alternated the next six points to ensure the set would go long. The visitors had three set points serving at 25, 26 and 27 but could not convert, and yet the fourth time proved to be the charm as McGrath put down back-to-back kills to give Union a two-set advantage. Both teams hit well in the frame, with both sides putting down 18 kills with only three errors.
 
As happened in both of the first two sets, St. Lawrence held a lead late in the frame but Union managed to battle back. Trailing by one at 22-21, a big kill by first-year Erin Stevens kickstarted a match-clinching 4-0 run, which was punctuated by a McCarron ace on match point to complete the victory.
 
Union will look to remain on the winning track on Wednesday, when the team returns home to host Bard College beginning at 7 p.m. at Viniar Athletic Center.