The SUNY Oneonta volleyball team gave a valiant effort tonight, but fell at home to visiting Union College 3-0.  The Red Dragons are now 8-8 overall while the Dutchwomen 11-2 overall.

Union jumped out to a quick 5-1 lead in the first set before Oneonta stormed back to tie the score at six apiece.  The Red Dragons kept battling and took its only lead of the first set 12-11 before the Dutchwomen ran off six unanswered points to take the lead for good.  Oneonta battled late in the set and came as close as 22-23 before dropping the first set 25-22.

In the second set, it was Oneonta that jumped out early to a 6-1 lead.  Union charged back and tied the score at seven apiece.  Nine ties and four lead changes later, Union took the second set 28-26.  The only other point in the match that Union held the lead was at 16-15.

The third set began as the first set with the Dutchwomen jumping out to the early 5-1 lead.  Oneonta battled back to knot the score at eight apiece.  The set was tied at one other point, 11-11, before Union began to pull away.  With the Dutchwomen leading 16-14, they ran off four straight points en route to taking the final set by a score of 25-18.

Leading the Oneonta attack tonight was sophomore Jill Darpino (Endicott/Union Endicott), who registered nine kills.  Junior Becca Horton (Owego/Owego Free Academy) and sophomore Karly Greco (East Patchogue/Bellport) fueled the attack with 14 and 13 assists respectively.  Senior Kristina Pelaccio (Verplanck/Hendrick Hudson) led the defensive effort with 21 digs.  Over the weekend, Pelaccio went passed 1,000 career digs and, after tonight's match, she has 1,046 digs.

Oneonta will now prepare for the first of three SUNYAC pool play weekends, which begins Friday at SUNY Cortland.  The Red Dragons will play SUNY Potsdam, Oswego and the hosts during the two-day event.