POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 8, 2015) – The Vassar College women's volleyball team will have its toughest task of the young season on hand Wednesday evening, welcoming in the No. 18 Ephs of Williams College for a non-conference match. The Brewers come into the week with a 3-0 record, after dispatching of the University of New England and Lehman College this past weekend in straight sets. The 3-0 start to the season is the best for the Brewers since 2012, when VC posted wins in its first four matches of a 20-11 season for the Vassar.

Match Details
Opponent: vs. No. 18 Williams College (0-0)
Links: (Williams Women's Volleyball Home Page) (Roster) (Stats) (Schedule)
Site: Poughkeepsie, NY
Facility:  Kenyon Hall
Date: September 9, 2015
Time:  7:30 p.m.
Live Coverage: (Live Stats) (Live Video)
 
What To Look For
The Brewers have played the strong Eph squad tough over the last few seasons, pushing the highlight talented Williams team to four sets in each of their last two meetings. Two seasons ago, Vassar got a huge game from then freshman Gabby Miller (Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon), as she chalked up 15 kills, three blocks and 21 digs. If Miller can replicate that type of performance, and she gets some help up front from newcomers Devan Gallagher (San Francisco, CA/Urban School of San Francisco) and Bria Corham (Kansas City, MO/Montville Township), the Brewers could once again give the Ephs a push in an exciting non-conference outing from Kenyon Hall.
 
A Look At The Ephs (0-0)
Due to New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) rules, the Ephs will just now get their season underway with Wednesday night's match with the Brewers. Williams is coming off a season that saw them earn a spot into the NCAA Tournament, making the NCAA Quarterfinals for the fifth time in program history. Reigning regional player of the year Tori Jasuta is back to anchor the offense for the Ephs, while now senior Ryan Farley is also back to lead run the team at the setter position. Jasuta led the NESCAC in kills per set last year, while Farley paced the conference in assists per set with 9.93. NESCAC and Regional Coach of the Year Christi Kelsey is back for her seventh season at Williams.
 
The Ephs did lose second-leading hitter Raea Rasmussen, but Katherine Lane is back in the middle for Williams after posting 238 kills and a team-leading 81 rejections. Catherine Egan also added 210 kills from the outside hitter spot, while three returning Ephs posted over 200 digs last season, led by the 408 from Jasuta. Williams finished with a hitting percentage as a team of .243, averaging over two aces per set a year ago. It would appear that the Williams' squad retooled as well this offseason, bringing in six freshmen including three players over six feet tall.
 
Against Williams All-Time
The Brewers are 5-18 against the Ephs in the all-time series, with Vassar's last win coming back on September 11, 2011 in Kenyon Hall. The Brewers have lost in four sets the previous three seasons, and five of their last six losses to Williams have gone longer than straight sets.
 
Spreading the Wealth
The Brewer offense this season has gone through multiple players, as four members of the team have 15 or more kills through three matches. Freshman Devan Gallagher leads the team with 27 kills, while Gabby Miller has 20 terminations as well.
 
Splitting Setting Duties
Freshman Annie MacMillan (Colorado Springs, CO/Coronado) and sophomore Sophia Tiajoloff (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) have been an effective teaming at the setter spot for VC, as the Brewers have dished out 9.44 assists per set.
 
Holding Them Down
So far this season, the Vassar College defense has been stout, holding teams to a -.007 attacking percentage. That mark is best in the Liberty League coming into the week, leading Union College and its .045 opposing hitting percentage.
 
Block Party
The Brewers come into Wednesday evening's contest with the Ephs currently leading the conference in blocks, averaging 1.78 per set. Gabby Miller leads the team with 1.11 blocks per game, while six other players have at least one rejection.
 
Call Me Ace
Juniors Gabby Miller and Sierra Tobin (Santa Cruz, CA/Santa Cruz) are currently 1-2 in the Liberty League in service aces, as the two are the only players in the conference averaging over an ace per set.
 
Devine Devan
The first week for freshman Devan Gallagher ended with a Liberty League Rookie of the Week honor, which was Vassar's first Liberty League Rookie of the Week accolade since Chloe Hallum (Olympia, WA/Olympia) earned the award twice during the 2012 campaign.
 
Your Serve, No Problem
The serve receive for the Brewers through the first three matches has been stellar, committing just four errors while posting a .971 reception percentage. In comparison, VC's opposition has chalked up a .813 serve receive mark.

Up Next
The Brewers will head to Rochester, NY this weekend to take part in the Golden Flyer Invitational, hosted by Nazareth College. VC will take on Medaille College and the College at Brockport Friday evening, before battling Hartwick College and host Nazareth Saturday afternoon.