POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The sixth-seeded Skidmore College women's volleyball team took the opening set before third-seeded Vassar rallied for a 3-1 (15-25, 25-20, 27-25, 25-14) victory Tuesday night at Kenyon Hall in the first round of the Liberty League Championship. The Thoroughbreds battled to a late lead in a tightly contested third set, but the Brewers recovered to advance to the conference semifinals.
- Skidmore finishes 13-12 marking the program's fourth consecutive season reaching the playoffs.
- Vassar is 14-12 and will take on second-seeded William Smith Friday at Ithaca.
- Cece Kilroy led Skidmore with a team-high 15 kills on .355 hitting, 17 digs and three service aces for a double-double.
- Chloe Heitman also recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs while adding three block assists.
- Catriona Hoelperl dished out 34 assists and served three aces while collecting six digs.
- Marlowe McIntyre finished with 14 digs, while Natalie Pedersen contributed eight kills and six digs.
- Oia Hughes anchored the Thoroughbreds at the net with a match-high seven block assists and four kills. Katy O'Connell added six kills on .235 hitting with a solo block and three block assists.
- Skidmore held an 11-7 advantage in blocks and a 67-58 edge in digs. Vassar finished with 52 kills on .243 hitting compared to 47 kills and a .209 hitting percentage for the Thoroughbreds. The Brewers held a narrow 10-9 advantage in service aces.
- Skidmore came out firing in the opening set, putting down 15 kills against just two errors on 27 attacks for a .481 hitting percentage. The Thoroughbreds built a 19-15 advantage before rattling off six consecutive points to close out the 25-15 victory. Kilroy delivered two kills during the closing surge, while Hoelperl added a service ace.
- The Thoroughbreds carried their momentum into the second set, taking a 6-4 lead behind two consecutive service aces from Kilroy. Vassar responded with five straight points to move ahead 9-6 and maintained its advantage the rest of the way. Skidmore battled to within three late, but the Brewers held on for the 25-20 victory to even the match.
- The third set featured 11 ties and five lead changes as the teams traded momentum throughout. Vassar moved ahead 23-21 late, but Skidmore rattled off three consecutive points, capped by a block from O'Connell and Hoelperl, to seize a 24-23 lead and reach set point. The Brewers recovered to tie the score at 24 before Skidmore fought back to even it again at 25. Vassar claimed the final two points to escape with a 27-25 victory and a 2-1 match lead.
- Vassar carried the momentum into the fourth, using an efficient offensive performance to pull away for a 25-14 victory. The Brewers recorded 17 kills against just one error on 32 attacks for a .500 hitting percentage in the deciding frame.
- Holland Kaplan powered Vassar with a match-high 17 kills on .385 hitting and 10 digs. Maura McAusland added 14 kills and two solo blocks, while Francesca Medrano distributed 36 assists.
