POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 8, 2017) – The Vassar College women's volleyball team got things started on the right foot in day one of the 2017 Vassar Invitational, knocking off King's College (PA) and Medaille College in straight sets. Vassar knocked off King's with scores of 25-14, 25-21 and 25-9, while VC topped the Mavericks 25-16, 25-17 and 25-20.
 
Vassar 3, King's College
The service game on both ends was the key to victory for Vassar in their three-set win over King's, as VC posted 15 service aces and allowed just one in earning the victory. Vassar struggled offensively for much of the match, but a blistering third set which saw the Brewers attack at a .550 rate was too much in the end for the Monarchs (4-1).
 
In the opening set neither team could get their arms going, as Vassar held King's to just five kills and a negative attacking rate of -.033. On the other side, Vassar connected for 13 kills led by the five from Devan Gallagher, as VC opened up a close affair early at 8-7 VC. Leading 15-11 after a kill from Katelyn Shifflett of King's, Vassar notched 10 of the next 13 points to pull away for the victory.
 
The visiting Monarchs led for much of the early going in the second set, with their latest lead coming at 14-13 after a block by Rachel Galante and Hannah Gallagher. VC and King's traded the lead before a 7-2 run at the end of the set clinched the match as Devan Gallagher powered down a kill to seal the set.
 
In the third, VC's offense and service game were too much, as the Brewer chalked up 12 kills and eight aces in the stanza to clinch the match on a kill by sophomore Colette Cambey. Sophomore Jane McLeod led the Brewers with 10 kills and 11 digs, posting four aces as well. Gallagher finished with nine kills and nine digs, adding a pair of service aces, and Cambey started to get more comfortable with nine kills on 20 attempts, adding a pair of blocks.
 
Junior setter Annie MacMillan posted 30 assists for the match, adding two aces and six digs, while Jorden Schreeder finished with nine digs and three of VC's 15 aces on the night. Vassar hit .200 (38-15-115) for the match, while receiving serve at a sparkling .977 rate for the match.
 
Shifflett led King's with seven kills, and Julie Kollar added a match-best 19 digs for the Monarchs.
 
Vassar 3, Medaille 0
The Vassar defensive unit held Medaille to just 17 total kills over the match, and added 12 more service aces to slip last the Mavericks. The Brewers forced 16 hitting errors, while hitting .172 on the match to win their third straight match and fourth in their last five.
 
The opening set saw Vassar (5-2) turn a 7-6 deficit into a 12-7 advantage thanks to a 6-1 run capped by a pair of Bria Corham kills. Vassar would pull away for the win, as Gallagher had five kills in the opening stanza. Medaille kept the second set close through the middle part of the game, but another long 7-1 run pushed VC out to a two set edge.
 
In the third set, Vassar squandered an early 9-1 lead but battled back to score seven of the final eight points of the match, as Cambey clinched another match with a kill after a marathon 58-second point. Gallagher posted a match-best 11 kills, nearly adding another double-double with nine digs, while Corham and Cambey each chalked up seven terminations. Junior Lauren Ninkovich had an all-around solid game with five kills and eight digs also.
 
Freshman Anna Zucchero posted eight digs and two aces off the bench, while Schreeder finished with 10 digs, three aces and four assists. MacMillan added 32 helpers and four digs in addition to the two more service aces. Lydia Bailey finished two of her three attempts, and Emily Overman pounded down three kills as well.
 
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Vassar will finish action at the Vassar Invitational Saturday, taking on the University of New England at 11 a.m. before battling Bates College at 3 p.m. in play from the Athletics & Fitness Center.