Photo Gallery
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Vassar College women's volleyball team played its first match at Kenyon Hall this season on Friday night. It was also the Liberty League opener for the Brewers (7-5, 0-1 Liberty), who saw their three-match winning streak snapped with a 25-22, 25-22, 15-25, 25-21 loss to Skidmore (9-4, 1-0 Liberty).
After the teams traded points early in the first set, Vassar went on a 5-2 rally to turn a 5-5 deadlock into a 10-7 advantage. It was 17-15 Brewers when the Skidmore rattled off four straight points to go up 19-17. The Thoroughbreds reached set point at 24-21, and Skidmore took the frame by a 25-22 count.
Vassar scored in the first three points of the second set and increased its cushion to 9-4 on an
Anna Zucchero (Newton, MA) service ace. However, Skidmore rallied back within one at 15-14, then, after kills by
Devan Gallagher (San Francisco, CA) and
Jane McLeod (New York, NY), used another 5-0 spurt to take a 19-17 lead. The Brewers scored the next two points to tie it at 19-19, but the Thoroughbreds ended the set on a 6-3 run to claim a 25-22 win and take a 2-0 advantage in the match.
In the third set, the Brewers again built an early lead, 3-1, before the Thoroughbreds countered with a 5-2 spurt to go in front, 6-5. Vassar responded with 18 of the next 24 points, though, to open up a 23-12 advantage. After a Skidmore service error brought the Brewers to set point,
Sara Ehnstrom (Kaneohe, HI) pounded home a kill to finish off a 25-15 Vassar win that extended the match.
It was Skidmore that went up 3-1 in the fourth set, but this time it was Vassar responding with a 3-0 run to take the lead. The Thoroughbreds rattled off 13 of the next 17 points, though, to build a 16-8 cushion. After Vassar rallied back within three at 19-16, Skidmore used a 5-2 spurt to reach match point. The Brewers held off three opportunities before the Thoroughbreds finished off the set, 25-21, and the contest, 3-1.
Gallagher paced Vassar with 14 kills, and she added nine digs. Ehnstrom finished with 11 kills, while McLeod tallied 10 kills.
Jennifer Kerbs (Sacramento, CA), meanwhile, hit .333 in the match, notching seven kills without an error in 21 attempts. She also had four blocks.
Annie MacMillan (Colorado Springs, CO) distributed 36 assists, and Zucchero recorded a match-high 29 digs.
Lauren Ninkovich (Portland, OR) and
Jorden Schreeder (Saratoga, CA) contributed 12 kills apiece for the Brewers, who posted a team hitting percentage of .174 (49-19-172).
For Skidmore, Katy Ehnstrom (Sarah's older sister) led the way with 14 kills on .324 hitting. Baily Hutchins finished with nine kills and six blocks, while Zoe Beals registered five blocks. Lauren Wolters had a double-double with 23 kills and 15 digs, and Lily Fitzgerald distributed 21 assists. Allie Dillon posted 25 digs to go along with three aces for the Thoroughbreds. Caite Canfield and Sophia Hettler each added 17 digs, as Skidmore held an 88-77 edge in that category. The Thoroughbreds also outblocked Vassar 9-4 and hit .151 (49-25-159) as a team.
On Saturday, the Brewers head to Union (9-4, 1-0 Liberty) for a 4 p.m. showdown. It will be Vassar's only road contest in a seven-match span.
