Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Sept. 12, 2014
Schenectady, N.Y – The SUNY Oneonta volley ball team traveled to Schenectady Friday to take part in the two-day Union Interleague Challenge. The Red Dragons split Friday's matches taking a five set thriller 3-2 from Union, avenging their loss from last weekend, after falling 3-1 to Saint Michaels.

For the second straight week Oneonta was part of a five-set thriller with the host institution; this time however the Red Dragons took revenge from last weekend's loss to Union. The Red and White overcame an early six point deficit to take the all-important first set 25-18. The key to the first set win was a timely six point run started by a Union error and included 2 Karly Greco (East Patchogue/Bellport) service aces to put the Dragons up 21-16. Union would add two points before Whitney Blair (Binghamton/Windsor) took the service line and Paige Carpluk (Yaphank/Bellport) finished the set with a kill.

Neither squad was able to gain an advantage in the early stages of the second set, though Oneonta was unable to take a lead until the scoreboard read 9-8 in its favor. Just eight plays later, Union took the lead and would go on to win the set 25-18.

Opening a lead of as many as six, the Dragons outlasted Union in the third set. A Lauren Pennino (Wantagh/Wantagh) kill to give Oneonta a 13-7 lead forced Union into a timeout out of which it would pull within three. Bending but never breaking, the Red Dragon defense never let the opponent gain any advantage and went on to a 25-22 set win.

Carpluk helped Oneonta jump out to an early 4-0 lead before Union pieced together a 9-3 run to take a 9-7 advantage. Neither team was able to run away with the pivotal set as they swapped short spurts. A 6-3 Union run late proved to be the deciding factor, sending the match to the deciding fifth set.

Neither team led by more than two in the deciding set until the very end. After taking a 12-11 lead on a Union error, libero Allyson Coniglione (Glenville/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) took to the service line to finish off the match. The final three points came on a pair of kills from Jill Darpino (Endicott/Union Endicott) capped off by an Erika Corbin (Kirkwood/Windsor) dagger each set up by Erin Avery (Harpursville/Harpursville).

Carpluk had a strong showing in the match recording 15 kills on 30 attempts to go along with 16 digs and a pair of service aces. Coniglione's 29 digs tied a match high.

The Red and White suffered its second loss of the season to Saint Michael's in a four set match. After falling 25-18 in the first set, Oneonta picked up a 25-22 win in set number two before ultimately falling 25-18 and 15-23 in the third and fourth set, respectively. Darpino led the Dragon attack with 11 kills on 35 total attempts. Greco added 17 assists, while Carpluk registered a trio of aces and a team-high 18 digs.

The 9-2 Red Dragons finish of the Union Interleague Challenge tomorrow when the play Skidmore at 11 and Nazareth at 1.