SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher College women's volleyball team fell to Skidmore College on Friday night in a non-conference bout, to open up its three match weekend at the Skidmore Invitational 12-25, 18-25, 22-25. With the loss, the Cardinals fall to 8-9 overall on the season, while the Thoroughbreds move to 12-4 overall in 2018.
Fisher started the match off with a kill from
Izzy Smith, however Skidmore was able to grab the momentum from there. The Thoroughbreds opened up a 15-4 run, earning them an 18-6 lead midway through the first set. Skidmore held its own, and finished off the first set with four straight points.
Alea Steigerwald led the way in the first, with three kills, while
Elise Kreuz added five digs.
Much like the first set, Smith was the first kill in the second set for the Cardinals. Skidmore rallied and put together a seven-point run, to grab an early 8-2 advantage. The Cardinals fought back to within five, with help of kills from Steigerwald,
Bernadette Nichols, and
Olivia Levulis.
The Thoroughbreds however maintained their lead, totaling 13 kills in the second set to help them take a two sets to none lead.
Steigerwald jumped out to a hot start in the third set, notching three quick kills, to give Fisher the early 5-1 lead. After a Fisher timeout with the score 8-8, the Cardinals scored five straight points with kills from Steigerwald and
Erica Pawlewicz to give them a 13-8 lead.
Both sides continued to trade points back and forth for much of the third set, until the scoreboard read 22-22. However, it was the home side gaining the edge for the final three points, as Skidmore finished the match off with two kills.
Steigerwald led the way for Fisher offensively, posting 12 kills and eight digs, while Smith and Nichols each finished with four kills apiece.
Defensively for the Cardinals, it was Kreuz leading the charge with 10 digs, followed by
Mikhala Martens with eight.
Rebecca Hay handled the setting duties, notching 19 assists, one kill, and five digs.
The Cardinals are back on the court for two matches tomorrow at Skidmore College, starting with the College of New Rochelle at 11 a.m. and followed by Plattsburgh State at 1 p.m.
