SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – A dominating pair of performances by the Skidmore College volleyball team led to a doubleheader sweep on the first night of matches at the Springfield Invitational, held at Dana Gymnasium Friday evening. Skidmore opened the season with a 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-13) victory against Lawrence, then completed the night with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-18) victory against Rhode Island College.
 
Skidmore improves to 2-0, while Lawrence and Rhode Island College dropped its first matches of the seasons to fall to 0-1.
 
In the first match, Skidmore got off to a rolling start in each of its first three sets to pull away with the victory. It was an impressive performance by freshman Lily Fitzgerald, who finished with five service aces and 14 assists. Senior Caite Canfield and junior Katy Ehnstrom each led the team with six kills in a balanced Thoroughbred attack. On the defensive end, senior Allie Dillon led the charge with 17 digs, while Canfield finished with 11.
 
The second match was much closer throughout, but Skidmore rode eight team service aces to victory, sparking huge runs at the end of the second and third sets. Dillon was all over the court defensively, finishing with a school-record 40 digs in the three set match, adding two service aces and one assist. Canfield finished with 32 digs on defense and 10 kills offensively. Ehnstrom recorded eight kills and four total blocks (two solo, two assisted), while freshman Zoe Beals added six kills.
 
The Thoroughbreds wrap up play at the Springfield Invitational on Saturday with a 10 a.m. match at host Springfield, followed by a 3:30 p.m. match against Endicott.