SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Roger Williams University Women's Volleyball team concluded the Skidmore Classic with two losses on Saturday at the Williamson Sports Center. The Hawks fell to host Skidmore College 3-2 (29-27, 17-25, 25-20, 19-25, 11-15) before dropping a 3-1 (20-25, 16-25, 25-16, 25-27) decision to Williams College. RWU moved to 3-6 overall.
For the Hawks, Peyton Felix (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) led the offense with 37 kills and 19 digs across the two matches. Rylie Eisenhard (Pottstown, Pa.) recorded 26 kills on a .382 hitting percentage, while Angela West (Riverview, Fla.) added 17 kills, two solo blocks and eight block assists. Ava Lombardo (Newtown, Conn.) distributed 42 assists and collected 15 digs, while Ava McGonagle (Reading, Mass.) finished with 31 assists. Marianna Hernandez (Norwalk, Conn.) anchored the back row with 41 digs and 11 assists.
For Skidmore, Chloe Heitman recorded 19 kills, 11 digs and three service aces, while Natalie Pedersen added 12 kills on a .346 hitting percentage. Catriona Hoelperl directed the Thoroughbreds with 47 assists and 11 digs. Williams was led by Ellie Simmons with 15 kills and Sophia Baer with 10. Maya Thompson added eight kills on a .438 clip, while Emily Cao finished with 25 assists and 10 digs and Eve Kaplan collected 20 digs.
Skidmore 3, Roger Williams 2
The opening set featured 16 ties and 10 lead changes. Roger Williams fought off a set point at 24-23 and eventually scored the final two points to secure a 29-27 victory. The Hawks recorded 16 kills on a .353 hitting percentage in the frame.
Skidmore evened the match with a 25-17 win in the second set before RWU responded in the third. Trailing 20-19, the Hawks scored six consecutive points to take the frame, 25-20. Felix delivered four straight kills during the closing stretch before Hernandez finished the set with an ace.
The Thoroughbreds built a 9-3 advantage in the fourth and went on to win, 25-19, forcing a deciding set. Roger Williams opened a 7-3 lead in the fifth and later held an 11-9 advantage, but Skidmore scored the final six points to clinch the match, 15-11.
Felix finished with a match-high 22 kills on a .346 hitting percentage, while Eisenhard added 14 kills on a .333 clip. McGonagle recorded 28 assists, and Hernandez collected 18 digs. RWU held a 10-2 advantage in team blocks.
Williams 3, Roger Williams 1
Roger Williams led 19-17 in the opening set before Williams scored eight of the final nine points to earn a 25-20 victory. The Ephs broke a 6-6 tie in the second with nine consecutive points and pulled away for a 25-16 win.
The Hawks answered in the third, using a 7-0 run to turn a 9-7 deficit into a 14-9 advantage. RWU hit .367 and limited Williams to a -.098 hitting percentage to take the set, 25-16.
The fourth frame featured 12 ties and five lead changes. Roger Williams reached set point at 24-22, but Williams scored three straight points to move ahead 25-24. A block tied the score at 25 before the Ephs secured the final two points for a 27-25 victory.
Felix posted a double-double with 15 kills and 13 digs, while Eisenhard recorded 12 kills on a .440 hitting percentage. Lombardo added a double-double with 28 assists and 11 digs, and Hernandez finished with 23 digs. The Hawks held an 11-1 edge in team blocks.
Roger Williams returns home Wednesday, Sept. 16, when it hosts Brandeis University at 6 p.m. at the Campus Recreation Center.
