SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College women's volleyball team took the opening set before William Smith rallied for a 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 20-25, 18-25) Liberty League victory Friday evening at Williamson Sports Center. The Thoroughbreds moved to 10-10 overall and 1-4 in conference play, while the Herons improved to 14-4 and 5-1.
- Chloe Heitman led Skidmore with 12 kills, two service aces and eight digs. Natalie Pedersen added 10 kills and a match-high five aces, while Madison Manning contributed seven kills on .211 hitting and two aces.
- Catriona Hoelperl distributed 35 assists to go along with eight digs and an ace.
- Marlowe McIntyre anchored the defense with a match-high 22 digs and four assists.
- Oia Hughes finished with five kills on .222 hitting, a solo block and three block assists, while Katy O'Connell chipped in four kills on .222 hitting.
- Skidmore seized control of the opening set after an 11-11 tie, building a 20-17 advantage before William Smith battled back to even the score at 20. The Thoroughbreds responded with three straight points, highlighted by a Pedersen ace and a Manning kill, to move ahead 23-20. After the Herons pulled within 23-22, Hughes delivered a solo block and O'Connell put down the final kill to secure the 25-22 victory.
- William Smith answered with eight consecutive points early in the second set to build a 9-1 lead. The Herons maintained their advantage and reached set point at 24-19 before Skidmore rattled off four straight points, capped by a Heitman kill, to close within 24-23. Arielle Newsome delivered the decisive kill on set point number six to give William Smith the 25-23 win and even the match.
- The third set featured nine ties as the teams battled to a 14-14 deadlock. William Smith seized control with five consecutive points behind Senya Dorny's serve to open a 19-14 advantage. Skidmore pulled within four late, but the Herons closed out the 25-20 victory to take a 2-1 lead.
- The Thoroughbreds battled back from an early 3-0 deficit in the fourth to move ahead 8-7 on a Heitman kill. William Smith responded with five straight points to regain control at 12-8 and extended its lead to 20-13. Skidmore later trimmed the deficit to 22-17, but the Herons claimed three of the final four points to clinch the match, 25-18.
- William Smith, a team receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCAA) top-25 poll, finished with a 48-39 advantage in kills and hit .190 compared to .088 for Skidmore. The Thoroughbreds totaled 11 service aces and 60 digs.
- Cassidy Breuer paced the Herons with a match-high 16 kills, while Newsome added 12 kills on .500 hitting. Delainy Williams recorded a double-double with 41 assists and 11 digs.
UP NEXT
Skidmore remains home on Saturday to host RIT in another Liberty League matchup at 2 p.m. The contest will serve as the Thoroughbreds' Dig Pink Match.
