POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - The Vassar College Women's Volleyball team recorded a thrilling five-set winner in a Liberty League showdown over Union 25-19, 22-25, 25-27, 25-12, 15-11 on Wednesday evening at Kenyon Hall. The Brewers improve to 12-9 overall and 5-2 in conference action while the Garnet Chargers fall to 12-12 overall and 2-6 in Liberty League play.
The win for Vassar guarantees the Brewers a top four seed in the Liberty League Championship as Vassar is currently a half game behind third place William Smith and one game behind second place Clarkson.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- FIRST SET
- Union held a 8-6 lead in the opening set following a kill from Shannon McGrath before the Brewers scored four straight following a block from junior Frannie Anthony-Brumfield and sophomore Molly Delahunty.
- The Garnet Chargers answered with five in a row to take a 13-10 lead on an ace from Sydney Scanlon and a kill from McGrath.
- The Brewers took a slim 17-16 lead before expanding its lead to 23-16 following three kills from first year Maura McAusland and a winner each from first year Holland Kaplan and Anthony-Brumfield.
- Denali Douglas' ace drew Union within four but back-to-back kills from McAusland earned the first set victory.
- SECOND SET
- Vassar took an early 6-3 lead on a kill each from Kaplan and McAusland along with a block from junior Julia Hale and McAusland.
- Union battled back and took a 15-10 lead following a winner each from Shelby McKim and Keara Page.
- Vassar drew within one after two kills from Kaplan and an ace from sophomore Melia Voss but the Garnet Chargers scored six straight to push its lead up to seven.
- The Brewers got within 24-22 on an ace from McAusland but the Garnet Chargers took the set on a VC error.
- THIRD SET
- Union earned the first six points of the set as Erin Stevens and Maddie McCarron each had two blocks along with an ace from Georgia Pool.
- Vassar rallied to cut the lead down to one at 10-9 on a block from Voss and Anthony-Brumfield.
- The Garnet Chargers pushed its lead to five following kills from Stevens and McKim and another ace from Pool before the Brewers drew even at 17 on a block from sophomore Rebecca Gutierrez and McAusland.
- The set was once again tied at 25Â following a winner from Kaplan until Union took the final two points, including a kill from Nikki Newcomer to earn the set victory.
- FOURTH SET
- Following a 7-7 tie, Vassar scored seven straight as first year T Petro landed three service aces and Anthony-Brumfield tallied a kill and a block.
- Union got within 15-9 on a McKim winner before Vassar extended its lead to 22-10 on kills from Anthony-Brumfield and Kaplan along with a block from Hale and Delahunty.
- Kaplan buried two winners in the final points to push the match to the deciding fifth set.
- FIFTH SET
- Teams traded points back and forth in the beginning of the set as the set was tied at nine following a kill from Newcomer.
- Back-to-back kills from McAusland and Anthony-Brumfield put Vassar ahead by two but the Garnet Chargers tallied back-to-back points from Stevens and a VC error.
- The Brewers scored the final four points to earn the victory as Voss landed consecutive aces to clinch the match.
FOR THE BREWERS
- Kaplan finished an impressive night with 22 kills, 18 digs and three aces while McAusland also had 22 kills to go along with nine digs and two blocks.
- Anthony-Brumfield registered seven kills and six blocks while Hale tallied three kills and three blocks.
- Voss handed out a match-high 39 assists and also added three aces, four blocks and 12 digs.
- Petro concluded a strong night with a match-high 29 digs and landed four aces.
FOR THE GARNET CHARGERS
- Newcomer tallied a team-high 11 kills while McGrath finished with eight kills and 17 digs.
- McKim recorded seven winners and three blocks along with Stevens registering six kills and five blocks.
- Scanlon handed out 32 assists and added two aces and eight digs.
- Pool finished with a team-high 25 digs and tallied three aces.
UP NEXT
- Vassar heads north to take on St. Lawrence and SUNY Potsdam on Saturday.
- Union travels to WPI for a non-conference matchup on Saturday.