SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Skidmore battled back in the final two sets to earn a 3-1 Liberty League victory over Vassar College in the league opener for both teams. With the win, the Thoroughbreds are now 5-7, while the Brewers slip to 2-6 overall.

Trailing 1-0 after Skidmore claimed the opening set by a tight 25-23 margin, the Brewers bounced back in the second.

The Thoroughbreds held a 3-0 lead to open, but four straight errors led to a 4-3 Vassar advantage early. It remained a back-and-forth battle soon after with neither team gaining more than a two point advantage before tying once more. A kill from senior hitter Claire Basler-Chang finally gave Vassar a three-point (16-13) edge, while consecutive kills from senior hitter Camille Donald helped the Brewers to a 21-16 lead.

Vassar took advantage of an error, aided by a kill from rookie outside hitter Hailey Hayes and a service ace by Basler-Chang to wrap up the 25-18 set win and tie it at 1-1.

Third set action saw VC open with a 6-1 advantage, paced by a pair of kills from Basler-Chang and Hayes. But the Thoroughbreds came roaring back, tying things at 7-7 on an ace from Frida Anguiano. The Brewers countered off subsequent errors, but an attacking error on Vassar saw Skidmore open a 13-10 advantage.

Trailing 22-17, the Brewers gained two points off kills from Basler-Chang and sophomore hitter Ava Casalino to cut it to a 22-19 deficit. VC took advantage of a late error by Skidmore, but the Thoroughbreds held on for the 25-21 third set victory.

Skidmore carried that momentum into the fourth set, owning an early 3-1 lead off a pair of Vassar errors. With the home team holding a 10-7 lead, Vassar battle back as a pair of kills from Hayes helped tie the set.

Vassar was unable to hold off the Skidmore attack as the Thoroughbreds built up an 18-14 lead. A kill from rookie hitter Frannie Anthony-Brumfield helped close the gap (18-15), and an error by the home team pulled it to within two late in the set.

Errors plagued the Brewers late – despite a Miller kill – as Skidmore took advantage of several service errors and a pair of Sophie Sacco kills to seal the a 25-21 set win and the 3-1 match victory.
Leading the way for the Brewers was Basler-Chang, who laid down a match-best 16 kills. She also added 10 digs with a block solo. Hayes chipped in with 15 kills, adding eight digs and a block assist, while Donald posted seven kills. Senior setter Madison Wilson notched 43 assists, while classmate and libero Sara Ehnstrom notched 20 digs.

For Skidmore, Zoe Beals posted a team-best 15 kills. Audrey Powell added five kills with 26 assists and a match-best four service aces. Sacco had seven kills with two block assists.

The Brewers return to action tomorrow when it returns to Kenyon Gym for a 4pm Liberty League match against Union College. Skidmore is also in action on Saturday at Bard.