Skidmore Box Score
Union Box Score

ROCHESTER, NY (October 14, 2011) – The Vassar College women's volleyball team split its two Liberty League matches today, falling to Skidmore 3-1, but rebounded to sweep Union 3-0 in action held at Rochester Institute of Technology.

After losing two straight matches, the Union victory keeps the Brewers in the thick of the Liberty League playoff race.  While the Brewers have completed their portion of league play, next weekend proves critical for teams such as Skidmore, Union and RIT that are vying for a playoff spot.

Vassar now stands at 16-11, 6-6 in the Liberty League. The Brewers are off during Fall Break, and will return to action with a home match against SUNY New Paltz on Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m.

Skidmore 3, Vassar 1 (15-25, 25-20, 21-25, 14-25)
Skidmore jumped out to a quick 7-3 lead in the first set, but with freshman hitter Marie Pitre serving, the Brewers tied the match 10-11 after a kill from junior setter Hilary Koenigs. Skidmore then went on a 9-1 run to take a 19-11 lead and closed out the set 25-15.

The Brewers evened the match 1-1 with a 25-20 victory in the second set. Vassar led 6-1 in the early stages and never allowed the Thoroughbreds closer than three points. Skidmore closed within 19-16, but a kill by Pitre and a bad set pushed Vassar ahead 21-16. Down the stretch, the Brewers got a big kill from junior hitter Cebe Loomis for a 24-19 lead and closed out the set with a kill from Pitre.

The Thoroughbreds won a key third set, 25-21. The match was tied 13-13, then Skidmore scored five straight points, punctuated by back-to-back kills from sophomore outside hitter Corinne Palmer, for an 18-13 lead. From that point, Vassar got no closer than four points, at 23-19 and 24-20, courtesy of kills from senior hitter Amy Bavosa.

The fourth set saw Skidmore jump out to a 13-6 lead, a margin that increased to 19-10 following a kill by junior outside hitter Carolyn Bottelier. Skidmore kept the pressure on and maintained its lead, closing out the match 25-14.
Vassar was led by Bavosa's 11 kills and Pitre's nine kills. Koenigs had 36 set assists. Sophomore Rose Carmen led the team in digs with eight.

Skidmore got 16 kills from senior outside hitter Kelley Vershbow and 10 from Bottelier. Junior setter Malloy Mendelsohn had 37 set assists and junior libero Samantha Friedman led all players with 21 digs.

Vassar 3, Union 0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-15)
The Brewers rebounded with a much-needed victory over the Dutchwomen.

Bavosa led the Brewers with 14 kills. Pitre and junior Jessie Ditmore had nine each. Koenigs had 31 set assists. Bavosa led a strong defensive effort with 17 digs, with both Ditmore and sophomore Aoife Feighery each with 16.