SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Roger Williams University Women's Volleyball team captured the opening set before falling to Middlebury College 3-1 (25-18, 17-25, 17-25, 17-25) on Friday evening at the Williamson Sports Center during the opening day of the Skidmore Classic.
For the Hawks, Peyton Felix (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) led the offense with nine kills while adding 11 digs. Angela West (Riverview, Fla.) recorded six kills without an error across 10 attacks for a .600 hitting percentage, along with two solo blocks and six block assists. Ava Lombardo (Newtown, Conn.) completed a double-double with 21 assists and 14 digs while delivering four service aces. Marianna Hernandez (Norwalk, Conn.) collected a team-high 15 digs, while Claire Davis (Trumbull, Conn.) added four kills, one solo block and six block assists.
For Middlebury, Natalie Stanford led all players with 18 kills, while Molly Harrison finished with 13 kills and 15 digs. Molly MacDonald recorded nine kills without an error for a .450 hitting percentage, and Gabby Pribisich added six kills on a .308 clip. Chloe Cunniffe directed the Panthers with 31 assists and 17 digs.
Roger Williams finished with a 15-4 advantage in team blocks and a 9-4 edge in service aces. Middlebury held a 57-28 advantage in kills and hit .201 as a team compared with RWU's .099.
The opening set featured six ties and three lead changes. Roger Williams used a 5-1 run to turn a 12-12 tie into a 17-13 advantage before Middlebury responded to even the frame at 18. The Hawks then scored the final seven points behind Hernandez's serve, receiving two kills from Rylie Eisenhard (Pottstown, Pa.), three blocks and a set-ending ace from Hernandez to secure a 25-18 victory. RWU hit .257 and held Middlebury to a .000 hitting percentage in the set.
Roger Williams built an 8-4 lead during the second frame before Middlebury pulled even at eight. The Hawks moved back ahead 11-10, but the Panthers answered with eight consecutive points and went on to take the set, 25-17.
RWU trimmed a five-point deficit to 10-9 in the third set following consecutive Middlebury attacking errors and a West block. The Panthers responded by scoring nine of the next 10 points to establish a 19-10 advantage before closing out another 25-17 victory.
Middlebury scored the first four points of the fourth set and extended its lead to 8-1. Roger Williams fought back to pull within five at 22-17 following a block from West and Adele Kasper, but the Panthers recorded the final three points to finish the match with a 25-17 win.
Roger Williams (3-4, 0-0 CNE) continues play at the Skidmore Classic on Saturday, Sept. 12. The Hawks face host Skidmore College at 11 a.m. before taking on Williams College at 3 p.m.
