SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Skidmore College women's volleyball team bounced back after dropping the second set to take the final two frames and defeat Keene State 3-1 Friday at the Joseph B. Dearing Volleyball Classic at Springfield College. The Thoroughbreds won 25-21, 16-25, 25-20, 25-23 to improve to 2-0.
- Natalie Pedersen led Skidmore with a match-high 13 kills, while Chloe Heitman added 11 kills and 11 digs for a double-double.
- Cece Kilroy finished with nine kills, a match-high four service aces and 11 digs. Katy O'Connell added seven kills.
- Catriona Hoelperl directed the offense with 38 assists to go along with 11 digs and two aces. Marlowe McIntyre paced the Thoroughbreds with 16 digs, while Athena Braverman also had 11.
- Skidmore and Keene State each finished with 44 kills, but the Thoroughbreds produced a 10-5 edge in service aces and held a 63-60 advantage in digs. Five Skidmore players, who each had 11 or more, accounted for 60 of the team's 63 digs.
- Skidmore took control of the opening set with a 9-6 stretch that turned a 14-10 lead into a 23-16 advantage. Keene State closed to within 24-21 before an attack error gave the Thoroughbreds the 25-21 win.
- The Owls answered in the second. With the score tied at 15, Keene State closed on a 10-1 run to even the match with a 25-16 victory.
- Skidmore trailed 13-8 in the third before rattling off seven consecutive points with Braverman at the service line to grab a 15-13 lead. The Thoroughbreds stayed in front from there and closed the set on Braverman's ace.
- The fourth set featured six ties. Skidmore led 10-5 before Keene State scored seven straight to move ahead, but the Thoroughbreds recovered. With the score tied at 16, Kilroy served back-to-back aces to put Skidmore in front for good.
- Keene State trimmed the margin to 24-23 late in the fourth before O'Connell delivered the match-clinching kill.
- Hoelperl's 38 assists moved her to 1,500 for her career.
UP NEXT: Skidmore continues play at the Joseph B. Dearing Volleyball Classic on Saturday against Westfield State at 10:30 a.m. and host Springfield at 1:30 p.m.
