Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Schenectady, N.Y.—The Skidmore College volleyball team lost a pair of close matches on the first day of the Union College Invitational Tournament. The Thoroughbreds lost the opening match 3-1 to Cortland and then lost 3-2 to Oneonta. 

In the first match, Skidmore won the first set 25-21, but the Red Dragons responded with a 25-20 win. The third set was a nail-biter but Cortland was able to prevail in the battle with a 31-29 victory to set the tone in the final match.  In the fourth and final set, the Thoroughbreds did all it could to hold off the nationally ranked Cortland State team but the Red Dragons secured the match with a 25-22 win. 

Elise Finnerty led Skidmore with 17 kills on the day with Corinne Palmer coming in a close second with 14 of her own.  In the assist category, Mallory Mendelsohn had the team high with 43 assists as well as adding nine digs to the teams overall 73.  The dig leader for the thoroughbreds was senior Sam Friedman with 25.

In the second match, Oneonta came from behind to claim the five-set win.

The Red Dragons and Thoroughbreds were even in the opening set at nine all. Each team continued to exchange leads as the first set progressed. Hannah O'Neil was able to give the Red Dragons a two-point advantage before a Skidmore timeout. Skidmore refused to falter as they regained the lead 22-21. The Red Dragons battled back to recapture the lead and win the set 25-23.

Skidmore responded back to led the second set as much as 10 points. The Red-Dragons were able to close the deficit to seven at 22-15, but the Thoroughbreds held on to win 25-19.
The Thoroughbreds went on to win the third, 25-17. 

In the fourth set, both teams battled closely as each team exchanged the lead multiple times. The teams were deadlocked at 20 as Skidmore benefited from a hitting error. However, Oneonta was able to even the score and recapture the lead on a block and a Skidmore miscue. The Red Dragons then went on to a 25-22 win to force the fifth set.

In the final set, the Thoroughbreds opened up a 5-0 lead when Oneonta called a time out. At the switch, the Red Dragons still trailed 8-3, Oneonta battled back to decrease Skidmore's lead to 10-8 when the Thoroughbred's called their timeout.  The Red Dragons battled back to even the score at 14 all. Each team exchanged points as the teams were deadlocked at 16. Oneonta then scored consecutive points for the 18-16 win.    

Aria Goodman and Corinne Palmer each paced Skidmore with 16 kills while Natalie Nagle had 15. Mallory Mendelsohn led the day with 49 assists while Sam Friedman led the Thoroughbreds defensively with 21 digs.