POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Skidmore College volleyball team came out on top of a dramatic five-set classic (27-25, 18-25, 15-25, 30-28, 15-10) on the road at Vassar on Saturday afternoon. Down two sets to one, the Thoroughbreds fought off two match points in the fourth set before scoring three in a row to force a fifth set in which they rode the momentum for the victory.

• Skidmore improves to 11-13 overall and finishes its Liberty League schedule at 4-4. The Thoroughbreds are currently tied with RIT (3-3) for fifth with one week of conference matches remaining. Skidmore clinches a playoff spot with any result next week as long as it does not result in a four-way tie between Union, RIT, Skidmore, and Vassar at 4-4.
• It is the second year in a row that Skidmore has gone 4-4 in the conference.
• Facing match point in the fourth set, Madison Manning tied it at 24 and a bad set one point later gave Skidmore set point. Skidmore had two more set points at 26-25 and 27-26 when Vassar got the edge with two points making it 28-27. Two Vassar errors sandwiched around another Manning kill gave the Thoroughbreds three straight to end it and send the match to the deciding set.
• In the fifth, seven unanswered Thoroughbred points got it to 8-2 Skidmore at the switch. The run saw back-to-back Maya Stolarz kills and a Manning ace. Vassar stopped the bleeding, but another three in a row from Skidmore made it 11-3.
• On match point, Vassar scored three straight to get to 10, but a Manning kill ended it putting an exclamation point on one of the closest and longest matches in recent team history.
• Manning led all Skidmore players with 16 kills and 15 digs. Jazlin Chen had 12 kills with six blocks, four solo.
• Natalie Pederson tallied eight kills and six digs.
• Catriona Hoelperl posted a career high five aces with 34 assists and 13 digs.
• Athena Braverman registered 21 digs and five assists. Isobel Streeper had 15 digs.
• For Vassar, Maura McAusland led with 18 kills, 10 digs, four aces, and two blocks.
• Tied at 21 in the first, the hosts scored two straight before Skidmore came back with three of its own to get to set point. Skidmore won on its third set point.
• The second set was tight until Vassar rolled off six straight to lead 21-14.
• The third went the same way. Skidmore was ahead 10-7 when the Brewers scored 13 out of 14 points on streaks of six and seven unanswered.
• It was Skidmore's first win over Vassar in four tries since 2021. Vassar leads the all-time series 29-19.

UP NEXT

• Skidmore will play Stockton and host Stevens in a tri-match next Saturday, Nov. 2.