SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A late rally for the Skidmore College volleyball team fell short, as Hartwick walks out of the Williamson Sports Center with a five set victory (26-24, 25-22, 14-25, 21-25, 15-11) in non-league action Thursday night.
Skidmore falls to 15-9, while Hartwick improves to 8-9.
Caite Canfield led the Thoroughbreds with 17 kills, notching a double-double with 26 digs.
Katy Ehnstrom added 14 kills and tallied three total blocks.
Sophia Hettler also tallied a double-double with 13 kills and 13 digs.
Allie Dillon tallied 31 digs to lead the defense.
Lauren Wolters and
Lily Fitzgerald combined for 49 assists.
Maria Sorriento led Hartwick with a 22-kill, 12-dig double-double.
Hartwick got off to a quick start, winning the first two sets in a close fashion. After getting off to a quick lead in the first set, Skidmore rallied back, taking a 16-15 lead. Both teams would make runs, with Skidmore leading for the final time at 23-22. With the score tied at 24, Hartwick tallied two consecutive points to end the set. The second set went Skidmore's way early, taking an 11-7 lead, before Hartwick clawed back thanks to a pair of small runs. Skidmore would tally two consecutive points to take an 18-16 lead, before Hartwick responded with a 6-2 run to flip the lead to 22-20. The Hawks would end the set scoring four of the last five points.
With its backs against the wall, Skidmore responded with a dominating third set, scoring the first five points and never looking back in a 25-14 set victory. The Thoroughbreds would hit a game-high .268 as a team in the set. The fourth set saw Hartwick take an early lead, before the Thoroughbreds clawed back, taking a 16-15 lead after a 4-0 run. Hartwick tallied two points to retake the lead, but Skidmore would put things out of reach with a 6-0 run, eventually withstanding a late Hartwick rally to force the deciding fifth set.
In the final set, Hartwick got off to a quick 5-1 lead and never let up, withstanding a late Skidmore rally. Down 13-8, Skidmore would tally three straight points to keep it close, but the Hawks finished the match with two consecutive kills.
Skidmore will take the weekend off, returning to action on Tuesday, traveling to Sage for a 7 p.m. match.
