Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- The Skidmore College volleyball team was held off by the Sage Colleges in the opening match of the 2014 Skidmore Classic, falling 3-1 (14-25, 25-23, 21-25, 24-26). The Thoroughbreds then dropped a tight 3-2 (23-25, 15-25, 25-19, 25-21, 9-15) match to St. John Fisher, Friday evening at the Williamson Sports Center.
 
Skidmore (2-10) will continue play on Saturday against Hamilton at 1 p.m. and Middlebury at 3 p.m.

In the first match, the Gators (12-4) used a 8-0 run early in the first set to pull ahead 10-2 and never looked back. The Thoroughbreds rebounded to take the second set, rallying from a 10-point deficit. After falling behind 20-11, Skidmore took 14 of the final 17 points and won the final seven points for the 25-23 win.

The two teams traded the lead in a back-and-forth third set. Skidmore went ahead 14-12 before Sage rattled off nine of ten points to go up 21-15. The Thoroughbreds closed the gap to three at 21-18, but the Gators recorded four of the final seven points to take the set.

The fourth set was another closely contested frame. Skidmore created some separation, taking a 17-12 lead, but again Sage responded clawing back to tie it at 23-23. The Thoroughbreds won the ensuing point but they could not close out the set, as the Gators squeaked out the 26-24 win.

Aria Goodman recorded a double-double with 16 kills and 15 digs and Brittany Osborn added 11 kills and 20 digs. Marcela Familiar-Bolanos tied for a match-high with 25 digs and Kalle Fox registered 39 assists to go along with 12 digs.

In the second match, Skidmore got down early in the first set, but battled back to get to stay within five points the entire way.  Goodman keyed a 5-0 run with a pair of aces that tied the set 23-23. The Cardinals settled down to ring up the final two points for the 25-23 win.
 
St. John Fisher took a 2-0 lead with a 25-15 second set win. The Thoroughbreds battled back to take the third set, using a 5-0 run to close out the scoring. Osborn served the final four points, including one ace.
 
Skidmore took the fourth set that included a 35 minute fire alarm delay.
 
In the fifth set, the teams were tied 6-6 before Fisher closed it out with a 9-3 run for the 15-9 win.
 
Goodman had 16 digs, six aces and four blocks. Osborn had a double/double with 11 digs and 15 kills. Fox had a double/double of her own with 37 assists and 14 digs. Familiar-Bolanos chipped in 39 digs and four assists.