SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Skidmore College women's volleyball team battled back to claim a tight second set but fell to local rival Union, 3-1 (13-25, 26-24, 21-25, 19-25), in Liberty League action Friday night at Viniar Athletic Center. The Thoroughbreds moved to 8-7 overall and 0-3 in conference play, while Union improved to 12-6 and 1-2.
- Cece Kilroy powered the Skidmore attack with a team-high 13 kills on .300 hitting and four service aces. Natalie Pedersen added nine kills, while Chloe Heitman finished with seven kills and 12 digs.
- Catriona Hoelperl handed out 35 assists and contributed four kills. Her 35 assists bring her to 490 for the season and 1,936 for her career, leaving her 64 shy of 2,000.
- Marlowe McIntyre anchored the defense with a match-high 17 digs and added an ace. Malana Noble served three aces, while Athena Braverman contributed two as Skidmore finished with 13 as a team. Katy O'Connell added five kills and three blocks.
- Union held a 55-42 advantage in kills and hit .323 compared to .151 for Skidmore. Kayla Martinez Cartagena led the Garnet Chargers with 14 kills, while Maddie McCarron finished with nine kills and 10 blocks, including three solo blocks and seven block assists. Allie Kronenberg handed out 40 assists and served four aces.
- Union seized control early in the opening set, scoring the first seven points and later extending its lead to 14-3. Skidmore answered with five consecutive points, including two Kilroy aces, to pull within 14-8, but the hosts regained momentum and closed out the 25-13 win.
- The Thoroughbreds responded in a back-and-forth second set that featured 10 ties. Skidmore built a 21-18 advantage behind a Noble ace and a block from Kilroy and O'Connell, but Union rallied to take a 23-22 lead. Heitman tied the score with a kill before Pedersen delivered a solo block to put Skidmore ahead 24-23. After Union pulled even again, O'Connell hammered a kill and McIntyre followed with a service ace to clinch the 26-24 victory.
- The third set remained competitive throughout, with seven ties and five lead changes. Union opened an 18-14 advantage before Skidmore battled back to within 19-18 behind kills from Hoelperl and Pedersen. The Garnet Chargers answered with four of the next five points to create separation and held on for a 25-21 win.
- Skidmore started strong in the fourth, taking a 5-3 lead behind consecutive Braverman aces and later moving ahead 10-9 on a Kilroy ace. Union responded with a 7-2 stretch to build a 16-12 advantage. The Thoroughbreds fought back to within 21-19, but the hosts rattled off the final four points to close the match, 25-19.
UP NEXT
Skidmore continues its Liberty League road trip Saturday at Bard. First serve in Annandale-on-Hudson is scheduled for 2 p.m.
