POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (October 7, 2017) – Vassar College junior hitter Devan Gallagher became the program's 11^th member of the 1000-kill club Saturday, helping lead the Brewers to a four-set win over Union College in the final home Liberty League contest of the year for VC. The Brewers earned the win with scores of 23-25, 25-19, 25-18 and 25-21.
 
The milestone for Gallagher came mid-way through the opening set, as she helped bring the Brewers to within two at 19-17, as she posted a kill after chalking up an attack as well. Gallagher became the first Brewer with 1000 kills since Chloe McGuire accomplished the feat in 2012, and now sits with 1019 on her career, 10^th most in program history.
 
The first set was the stage for a hitting matchup between Gallagher and Union's Gillian Gore; the two lead the Liberty League in kills, Gallagher with 304 and Gore with 296.  While the Dutchwomen were able to stave off Vassar's fierce attackers for the beginning of the set, holding a six-point margin above the Brewers for the majority of the set, the Brewers' combined eleven digs and Annie Macmillan's ten assists elevated the set to a tied score of 23-23.  However, in the last two points of the set, Gore was able to find the spaces between the Brewers, lifting her team to win the set, 25-23.
           
The Brewers returned to the court with a renewed composure, methodically setting up a combined 27 attacking plays to Gallagher and sophomore Jane McLeod. However, a strong libero performance from Union's Brianne Hallock kept the score close.  The teams traded serves back and forth until the Brewers went on a seven point offensive streak, supported by MacMillan's twelve consecutive assists.  Libero Anna Zucchero aided the effort with six digs, limiting Gore to only three kills in the set.  Through this, the Brewers pulled away with the second set, 25-19, effectively tying the match once again.
           
The Brewers were able to capitalize on many Union attacking errors in the third set, finding their rhythm in controlling service play. The team played a patient defensive game, with senior Bria Corham and sophomores Colette Cambey and Jennifer Kerbs keeping the Union scoring at bay with two blocks each.  Vassar emerged from the set with a 25-18 victory, positioning them for a game-winning set.
           
The Dutchwomen rallied in the fourth set, holding Vassar to a close margin throughout many long points.  However, the Brewers' defensive stamina and calculated team attacks proved to be too much for the Dutchwomen, and the Brewers came away with a 25-21 win. 
 
Gallagher led the team in kills (24) and hitting percentage (.333), while also registering 13 digs.  MacMillan was a category leader as well with 42 assists and five service aces.  Cambey finished with four blocks, tying her season record.
 
Zucchero finished the match with a team-leading 19 digs for Vassasr, while Lauren Ninkovich finished with 12 digs as well for VC. McLeod added 12 finishes for the Brewers, who hit .239 for the match.  The win for Vassar was its ninth straight triumph, which is the most since VC started the 2006 season with 10 in a row.
 
Gore finished with 18 kills and 14 digs for the Dutchwomen (10-14, 1-4 Liberty), while Sage Shimamoto chalked up 34 assists and 10 digs. Hallock led all defenders with 20 digs, while Stephanie Linonati posted six kills, six digs and four aces.
 
Next weekend, the Brewers head to Rochester, New York to participate in a two-day tournament.  The first game will be against SUNY Geneseo on Friday, October 13 at 7 p.m. in out-of-conference play.