SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Skidmore took the opening set and pushed the second beyond regulation before St. John Fisher rallied for a 3-1 victory Friday evening in the opening match of the Skidmore Classic at Williamson Sports Center. The Thoroughbreds fell 25-21, 27-29, 17-25, 18-25 to move to 4-2.
- Natalie Pedersen and Chloe Heitman shared the team lead with 16 kills apiece. Pedersen hit .367 with just five errors on 30 attacks. Cece Kilroy added eight kills and 11 digs, while Katy O'Connell finished with six kills and a team-high three blocks.
- Catriona Hoelperl handed out a match-high 43 assists and added three service aces. Marlowe McIntyre led all players with 16 digs, while Athena Braverman reached double figures with 10.
- Skidmore finished with 51 kills, six aces and 49 digs. St. John Fisher had 54 kills, seven aces and 50 digs, but separated itself with a .375 hitting percentage and just nine attack errors. Fisher also held an 8-3 advantage in team blocks.
- Kalyna Dannenberg led all players with 18 kills on .484 hitting for St. John Fisher.
- The Thoroughbreds erased a 13-10 deficit in the opening set and broke a 15-all tie with four consecutive points to seize control. Pedersen closed the 25-21 win with a kill as Skidmore hit .367 in the frame.
- St. John Fisher appeared poised to even the match with a 24-21 lead in the second, but kills from Kilroy and Pedersen followed by a Kilroy ace pulled Skidmore even. The teams traded points through 27-all before Fisher claimed the final two for a 29-27 win.
- Fisher jumped out to a 13-5 advantage in the third and hit .370 on the way to a 25-17 victory.
- Skidmore stayed within 11-9 early in the fourth and later rattled off four straight points — three Pedersen kills followed by a Hoelperl ace — to trim an 18-11 deficit to 18-15. Fisher answered down the stretch and hit .519 in the set to close the match, 25-18.
UP NEXT: Skidmore continues the Skidmore Classic Saturday with two matches at Williamson Sports Center. The Thoroughbreds face Roger Williams at 11 a.m. before taking on Oswego at 3 p.m.
