Volleyball Posts Impressive Sweep of Skidmore

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Sophomore Gillian Gore had a team-best 11 kills and 15 digs to lead the Union College women's volleyball team to a convincing 3-0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-15) sweep of Skidmore College in Liberty League action on Tuesday night at the Viniar Athletic Center. Gore had a team-leading 11 kills, but six different players had at least two kills and five had five or more to lead a well-balanced attack for Union (10-6, 2-1 Liberty League). Sophomore Lara Atalay put down eight kills and also added 15 digs, while classmates Steph Libonati and Katie Moss both had six kills apiece. Fellow sophomore Sage Shimamoto just missed a double-double as well with a match-high 33 assists and nine digs. The first set featured eight ties and four lead changes, and the decision still hung in the balance with the set tied at 16. But Union closed the frame decisively, scoring nine of the final 10 points – led by three kills from Atalay and one each from Libonati and Moss – to take the opening frame. The second stanza was pivotal, as Skidmore (14-5, 2-1 Liberty League) scored the first four points only to have Union come back with the next six. The Dutchwomen never trailed after that, although the Thoroughbreds made a late run to turn a 23-18 lead into a 23-22 advantage. However, two Skidmore attack errors finished the frame and gave Union a commanding two-set lead. Comfortably up by two sets, Union did not let up offensively in the final stanza, going 13-of-16 on sideout opportunities and allowing Skidmore to earn back-to-back points only twice. Holding a slim 10-8 advantage, Union scored six of the next seven points to take a 16-9 lead, and the margin never fell below five points the rest of the way. Union will look to keep the momentum going into a big weekend of Liberty League play, beginning on Friday at 7 p.m. when the Dutchwomen host the Rochester Institute of Technology at the Viniar Athletic Center.