The SUNY Oneonta volleyball team dropped two matches in the final day of the Skidmore Invitational. Skidmore outlasted Oneonta 3-2 in the first match of the day before Roger Williams University bested the Red Dragons 3-1 in the nightcap. The pair of losses drops Oneonta's record to 7-12 on the year.
Clara Culeton (Oswego/Oswego) paced the Red Dragons with 28 kills and seven solo blocks.
Victoria Moulder (Wantagh/Kellenberg Memorial) chipped in with 19 kills and six blocks with a team best .533 hitting percentage.
Gillian Stieglitz (Montrose/Hendrick Hudson) added 16 kills while
Jessica Fowler (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills) dished out 81 assists, including her 2000
th of her career.
After dropping the first set 25-13 to Skidmore, Oneonta tied the match with a 25-17 victory in the second frame. With the Red Dragons trailing 12-11,
Jessica Fowler (Burnt Hills/Burnt Hills) set up
Clara Culeton (Oswego/Oswego) for the kill, knotting the set at 12-12. Fowler then fed
Gillian Stieglitz (Montrose/Hendrick Hudson) to give Oneonta the lead for good. Leading 20-17, the Red Dragons went on a 5-0 run to end the set.
After Skidmore captured the third set 25-16, Oneonta kept the match going with a hard fought 25-18 win in the third set. Oneonta held the lead throughout the set, jumping out to a 5-1 lead with two kills coming from
Kathryn Johnston (Altamont/Guilderland). Skidmore would rally within a point, but the Red Dragons used a 6-0 run to make the score 12-5. Oneonta never let a Skidmore run exceed four as the Red Dragons forced a decisive fifth set.
Things looked promising at the beginning of the fifth set as Oneonta jumped out a 4-1 lead. Skidmore would slowly chip away at the deficit. With the set tied at 7-7, Skidmore went on a 6-0 run and never looked back as the thoroughbreds earned a 15-9 victory.
Against Roger Williams, Oneonta took the first set 25-23 before the Hawks took three straight set by scores of 25-22, 25-18 and 25-19.
The Red Dragons return to action on Friday, October 5th when they resume SUNYAC pool play against New Paltz at 5:00 p.m.
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