PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Union College women's volleyball team improved to 6-1 on the road this season with a hard-fought 3-1 (25-18, 20-25, 25-18, 25-15) victory over Manhattanville University in non-conference action at Kennedy Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.
 
Sophomore Maddie McCarron led a balanced attack for Union (17-7) with 10 kills on. 429 hitting to go with a match-high four blocks and four digs, followed by junior Shannon McGrath and sophomore Shelby McKim with nine kills each. McKim chipped in a match-high six service aces and three blocks as well, while junior Georgia Pool recorded five aces and a team-leading 17 digs. First-year Allie Kronenberg had the team's only double-double of the day with 31 assists and 16 digs along with five kills, three blocks and three aces.
 
Sofia Morales posted a match-high 16 kills and Alana Rivera added 23 assists and 19 digs for Manhattanville (15-9).
 
The teams traded mini-runs during a closely contested opening frame. Union never led by more than three for most of the set, which saw the visitors in front until a 5-1 run put the Valiants up 18-17. But a service error gave the serve back to Union and the team rattled off seven straight points on Pool's serve, including three aces, to take the early lead.
 
The Garnet Chargers had their worst hitting set of the night in the second, allowing the Valiants to even the match. After struggling early, Union used a 9-1 run to take its first lead of the set at 17-15. However, Manhattanville closed on a 10-3 run to even the match.
 
Union responded well, however, coming back to hit .367 with 14 kills on 30 swings in the third set to regain control. The teams alternated points to start the frame before a quick run put the home team up 10-7. Three kills and an ace by McKim jump-started a 7-1 run that gave Union its first advantage, and seven straight points on Kronenberg's serve (including three aces) soon after helped to secure the all-important third set.
 
The visitors closed out the match by making only one error in the fourth frame. McKim rattled off four more aces as part of an 8-0 run that put the visitors in control up 13-6, and the Garnet Chargers did not allow Manhattanville to score more than two straight points in closing out the win.
 
Union, which has won its most matches in a season since 2016, will finish off Liberty League play on Saturday with an 11:30 a.m. match against William Smith College, followed by a 2 p.m. match against Nazareth University.