SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College volleyball team split the first day of action at the Skidmore Invitational, held at the Williamson Sports Center Friday evening. The Thoroughbreds swept Potsdam in three sets (25-20, 25-15, 25-16) and fell in a tight, five-set battle to UMass Boston (25-21, 18-25, 25-16, 20-25, 11-15).
 
Skidmore's record stands at 16-10 after the two matches. Potsdam falls to 11-16, while UMass Boston improves to 11-14.
 
Before the first match, Skidmore celebrated its four seniors: Ang McPartlin, Kalle Fox, Rachel Licata, and Clara Jones. Fired up for the first match, Skidmore trailed twice the whole way through, hitting .354 as a team to run away with the victory.
 
Caite Canfield led the way with a 13-kill, 13-dig performance, hitting a solid .400. Katy Ehnstrom added 10 kills with a .467 hitting percentage. Lauren Wolters added a pair of kills and 37 assists. Allie Dillon and Bailey Hutchins added 10 kills a piece on the defensive end.
 
Nicole Hansen tallied nine kills to lead the Bears.
 
In match two, Skidmore and UMass Boston split the first two sets, before a massive 13-0 run in the third pushed Skidmore to a 2-1 advantage.  The Beacons went on a 7-1 run to break a 9-9 tie, eventually taking the fourth set, and overcame a 7-3 early deficit in the fifth set to pull off the victory.
 
Sophia Hettler tallied a career-high 15 kills to lead the Thoroughbreds. Canfield notched her second double-double of the night, with 14 kills to go along with a team-high 19 digs. Ehnstrom added 14 kills, hitting a team-best .250. Wolters added 41 assists, while Dillon added 12 digs on the defensive end.
 
Eileen Shi led the Beacons with 16 kills and 17 digs, while Emilia Czapiewska and Sarah Doyle combined for 24 kills.
 
The Thoroughbreds will wrap up the regular season in day two of the Skidmore Invitational Saturday morning. Skidmore will host Sage in the second matchup between the two teams this season at 10 a.m., before wrapping up the tournament against New Paltz at 2 p.m.