SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – First-year
Maddie McCarron led all players with 10 kills on .600 hitting and five blocks as the Union College women's volleyball team won its second straight Liberty League match with a 3-0 (25-12, 25-21, 25-14) victory over Bard College on Wednesday night at Viniar Athletic Center.
McCarron was a force at the net for Union (8-6, 2-1 Liberty League), putting down 10 of her 15 swings for kills and adding two solo blocks and three block assists. Senior
Nikki Newcomer added eight kills on 17 attempts, while senior
Keara Page and sophomore
Shannon McGrath added six kills apiece. Sophomore
Georgia Pool had another strong defensive effort with a match-high 17 digs.
Playing in front of a raucous crowd at the school's first Athletes for Athletes game of the season, Union came out very strong by hitting .433 with 16 kills and three errors in the opening frame. McCarron had a kill and a block as part of the home team's 5-2 start, and Union remained comfortably in front before closing on a 9-1 run to take the opening frame.
The second stanza was the most competitive of the night, with Bard holding a lead for much of the opening half. The Raptors led by a 13-10 margin before Union mounted a comeback, using a 7-1 run to take back the lead at 17-14 thanks to a pair of Newcomer kills. The Garnet Chargers led 20-16 before simply alternating points the rest of the way to take a commanding two-set lead.
After the Raptors jumped out to a 4-0 lead to begin the third set, Union came right back soon after with a 12-1 run that quickly turned the tide. Senior
Brooke Fleming and junior
Kirsten Litchfield combined for four service aces during the run, which was followed soon after by a 7-1 stint that helped to close out the sweep.
As a team, Union hit .220 on the night with 35 kills and 15 errors in 91 attacks. The Garnet Chargers also limited Bard to .033 hitting, with 21 kills and 18 errors on 92 attempts.
Union continues conference play on Saturday with a 2 p.m. match against Ithaca College at Viniar Athletic Center.
