SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher women's volleyball team secured two wins on the final day of the Skidmore Tournament on Saturday. The Cardinals swept Middlebury College, 3-0, before battling Williams College, which received votes in the latest AVCA Top 25, to a 3-2 victory. Junior outside hitter Lydia Fraser was named to the All-Tournament Team following her strong performance throughout the weekend. Fisher improved to 4-3 overall with the victories.Â
How It Happened: St. John Fisher 3, Middlebury 0
The Cardinals opened with a back-and-forth first set before taking a 10-7 lead behind two service aces from sophomore outside hitter Kalyna Dannenberg. Middlebury battled back to tie the set at 13-13, but Fisher closed it out with kills from senior outside hitter Kaylene Noble and senior middle blocker Ana Gutman to win, 26-24
Fisher carried its momentum into the second set, overcoming an early 5-0 deficit. The Cardinals took control at 14-13 before Dannenberg sparked a 10-0 run with a kill and four service aces. Gutman added five kills and Noble had three as Fisher won, 25-15.
The Cardinals completed the sweep in the third set after another competitive start. Fisher took a 12-8 lead following a 5-1 run before Middlebury cut the deficit to 14-13. The Cardinals regained control and extended their lead to 21-16, with Fraser and Dannenberg each recording five kills. Fisher held off a late push from the Panthers before Fraser recorded the final kill to secure the 25-21 win.
Match Notes
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Gutman recorded a season-high six total blocks.
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Dannenberg recorded a career-high six service aces.
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Junior setter Zofia Keogh recorded 33 assists, marking her fourth match this season with 33 or more assists.
How It Happened: St. John Fisher 3, Williams 2
The Cardinals fell behind early in the opening set as Williams jumped out to a 9-3 lead. Fisher continued to battle but was unable to close the gap as the Ephs took the opening set, 25-12.
Fisher responded in the second set, trading points with Williams early before taking a 10-8 lead. The Ephs regained the advantage and led 19-17, but the Cardinals battled back to even the set 22-22. A Williams attack error, blocked by Gutman and junior setter Cadence Milligan, tied the set at 23-23. Fraser recorded a service ace to put Fisher ahead 24-24 before Milligan recorded the final kill to give the Cardinals a 25-23 win and even the match.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 4-1 lead to start the third set before Williams cut the deficit to 5-4. Fisher extended its advantage to 8-5 following a service ace from Fraser, but the Ephs continued to battle and eventually pulled within one at 8-7. The Cardinals maintained their lead and went up 12-9 before Williams fought back to tie the set at 15-15. Fraser recorded nine kills in the set, including three during the final four points, as the teams continued to trade points. Williams took a 24-22 advantage, but the Cardinals scored four straight points, including two kills from Fraser and a block from Dannenberg and Gutman, to secure the 26-24 victory and take a 2-1 lead.
Williams answered in the fourth set, taking a 6-4 lead early on. Fisher battled back to tie the score at 11-11 with a service ace from Milligan and kills from Fraser and sophomore middle blocker Teagan Moore. Both teams traded points throughout the remainder of the set before Williams secured the 25-23 win. Fraser finished the set with six kills, while Moore added four.
The fifth and final set continued with both teams trading points. The Cardinals trailed 14-12 before using a service ace from Fraser to tie the set at 14-14. With the score tied at 16-16, a Williams service error gave Fisher a 17-16 lead. Moore and Noble then came up with a big block to secure the 18-16 victory and complete the 3-2 win.Â
Match Notes
Up Next
The Cardinals will face Alfred State and SUNY Delhi at 3 and 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at the Manning & Napier Varsity Gym in Pittsford, N.Y.
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