SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – First-year Maddie McCarron hit .765 with 13 kills on 17 attempts and sophomore Shannon McGrath led all players with 16 kills as the Union College women's volleyball team kicked off its home schedule with a 3-1 (25-16, 24-26, 25-15, 25-14) victory over Vermont State University Castleton on Wednesday night at a sweltering Viniar Athletic Center.
 
McCarron had an incredibly efficient match at the net for Union, putting down 13 of her 17 errorless swings while also adding three blocks, two digs, a service ace and an assist. She had at least three kills in all of Union's winning sets, including five in the deciding fourth frame. No Union player has hit higher than .700 with at least 12 kills in a match since at least 2007.
 
McGrath also posted her second straight double-double with 16 kills and 16 digs, one dig short of classmate Georgia Pool's match-high 17. Senior Nikki Newcomer added nine kills on .350 hitting and first-year Erin Stevens put down eight kills as well as part of a well-balanced offensive effort. First-year Sydney Scanlon chipped in a season-best 22 assists and senior Brooke Fleming recorded 14.
 
After Castleton grabbed an early lead in the opening set, Union used an 11-3 run that turned a 6-5 deficit into a 16-9 advantage. McCarron and Stevens had two kills apiece and senior Denali Douglas put down two aces of her match-high four aces during the run, which helped Union take the opening frame.
 
The second stanza was the most competitive, featuring eight ties. Union trailed 18-14 before a 6-1 run put the home team back ahead, but a quick 4-1 spurt gave the Spartans back control. The Garnet Chargers came back to even the score at both 23 and 24, but back-to-back kills by Jocelyn Ray evened the match.
 
Union quickly took back control of the contest with a dominating third set, using a 17-5 run to build up an insurmountable 21-9 advantage. The home team jumped out to another quick start in the fourth frame, scoring 11 of the first 15 points. After five straight for Castleton brought them within two, Union responded in kind with five in a row, led by two Newcomer kills, to take back a 16-9 lead. Union then closed out the set and the match with a 8-1 run mostly on the serve of McCarron.
 
Union finished the match hitting .315 as a team with 59 kills and 18 errors on 130 attempts. The team also accumulated 12 aces and 62 digs to go with three blocks.
 
The Garnet Chargers will return to action this weekend at the SUNY New Paltz Invitational, beginning on Friday with a 6:15 p.m. match against Mount St Mary College.