Skidmore Box Score

Union Box Score

SCHENECTADY, NY (September 19, 2009) – From the very outset, the goal for the Vassar women's volleyball team was clear: reclaim the Liberty League Championship that had evaded the program the last two seasons. On Saturday afternoon, the Brewers took a meaningful step forward in that quest, notching a pair of impressive victories over league rivals Skidmore and Union to capture the Union College Invitational. 

The Brewers swept Skidmore 3-0 (25-23, 25-14, 25-20) and defeated Union 3-1 (26-24, 14-25, 25-22, 25-23) to remain an undefeated 8-0 on the season. Vassar next hosts SUNY New Paltz on Wednesday, September 23 at 7:00 p.m. The rival Hawks won a school record 32 games last season and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament Elite Eight. 

In the victories over Skidmore and Union, the Brewers had decidedly different offensive outings and similar defensive performances. In the 3-0 sweep over Skidmore, Vassar pounded home 46 kills and a .320 attack percentage -- the best-and-second best performances of the season – and displayed great defensive resolve with 50 digs. Against Union, the Brewers managed only a .090 hitting effort, but set a season-best performance with 59 digs. 

Besides its consistent effort on defense, a mix of aggressive play and all-court ball hawking, the Brewers received another stellar performance from freshman hitter Chloe McGuire, who secured back-to-back double figures kill matches, earning a career-high 14 against Skidmore and 12 versus Union. McGuire has now tallied 10 or more kills in five of her last six matches. She has secured those nifty feeds from freshman setter Hilary Koenigs, who had a pair of 30-plus assist matches. Against Skidmore, Koenigs set a new personal best with 37 set assists and followed that effort with 35 against Union. 

After a tight first set against the Thoroughbreds, the Brewers got untracked in the middle set, hitting .426 and converting on 15 kills with only two errors in 28 attempts. The third set was nearly a mirror repeat, with Vassar only making five miscues on 35 attempts. McGuire was clearly an offensive stalwart against Skidmore, but senior Tess Johnson put together her finest outing of the season, hitting .588 on 12 kills with a mere two errors on 17 attempts. 

With senior Chelsea Mottern earning 17 digs, the fifth time this season she has surpassed the double figures mark in digs, Skidmore found the Vassar defense steadfast. Koenigs showcased her all-purpose game with nine digs and sophomore Amy Bavosa had eight digs. 

Defense remained Vassar's theme and forte against Union, which resulted in two hard-fought sets being won by two points and one set captured by three points. Bavosa, McGuire and Mottern combined for 36 of Vassar's 59 digs, which more than overcame a season-low .090 hitting percentage. 

Behind a season-high 144 attack attempts, the Brewers had more than enough offense to upend the Dutchwomen. McGuire led the Brewers with 12 kills, followed by Bavosa with 11 and senior Sarah Potts with eight kills. Koenigs was instrumental in all but one of Vassar's set assists, collecting 35 of the team's total of 36. She also contributed on the defensive end, garnering seven digs. Freshman Christina Verdirame added six digs. 

The serving pressure Vassar put on Sage College Friday night was in full effect against Skidmore and Union. The Brewers had six service aces against Skidmore, three coming from McGuire. In an eight service ace performance against Union, senior Jasmin Iskandar notched three. The Brewers also had 20 block assists, ten each against Skidmore and Union.