Schenectady, N.Y. - September 14, 2017 - Competing out of region for the first time this season, the Springfield College women's volleyball team pulled out a five-set victory at Union College on Thursday evening.  The Pride earned a 25-21, 25-20, 23-25, 22-25, 15-8 non-conference win in the Viniar Athletic Center.

Springfield, which is again receiving votes in the AVCA Division III National Coaches Poll, improves to 8-2 on the year, while Union falls to 2-7 on the year.

Hayley Kmetz (Ardsley, N.Y.) was especially dynamic on the night for Springfield as she registered a career-high 16 kills to go along with 16 digs, three blocks and two aces.  Jen Donnelly (Exeter, R.I.) added 11 kills and Katie vonKampen (South Setauket, N.Y.) was a force at the night, racking up eight blocks and eight kills.  Bridget Walsh (Garrison, N.Y.) contributed eight kills and five blocks of her own and Anagabrielle Sanchez (Caguas, Puerto Rico) led all players with 25 digs.  Kayley Cimino (Cumberland, Maine) totaled 39 assists, 14 digs, and four blocks in leading Springfield's offense. 

After consecutive aces by Hannah Lozano (Stockton, Calif.) gave Springfield a 12-10 edge in the opening set, Union responded with seven-straight points to give the hosts a comfortable 17-12 cushion.  However, a pair of kills from Donnelly kickstarted an 8-2 surge that put the Pride on top, 20-19, following a kill from Kmetz.  After back-to-back points from Union forced Springfield into a timeout, the Pride benefited from a solo block and kill from Walsh en route to the 25-21 first-set victory. 

Walsh delivered back-to-back blocks to start the second set for the Pride, but the Dutch would climb back within 6-5.  Springfield would use five Union miscues and put together an 8-3 push as its lead ballooned to 14-8, only to have Union string together a 7-1 burst of their own to knot things at 15-all on a service ace.  vonKampen responded with a kill and solo stuff to fuel four unanswered points by the Pride, which coasted its way to a 25-20 second-set victory.  

The Pride seized a quick 4-1 lead in the third set, but it was short lived as Union put together an 8-3 run to earn a 9-7 edge.  Following a kill and consecutive aces by Kmetz, Springfield would fall victim to a 5-1 run and never lead again the frame.  Despite the Pride tying things up at 23-all after back-to-back Union errors, the Dutch produced the next two points for their first set win of the match.

Donnelly converted for a kill to give Springfield a 7-6 lead in the fourth before Union erupted for a 12-4 burst to open up an 18-11 cushion.  Springfield would get as close as two on four occasions, the last coming at 24-22 on a Kmetz kill, only to have a sideout kill by the hosts force a fifth set. 

Trailing 3-2 in the fifth, it was Springfield that put the game away with a huge run as it scored 10 of the next 12 points to break the set open with a 12-5 lead.  vonKampen had three blocks in the burst for Springfield, which held the Dutch to a -.038 hitting percentage in the critical set.  Donnelly wrapped up the match with her 11th kill of the night as Springfield escaped with the 15-8 win.

The Pride will now turn its focus to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play and will host WPI at 1pm on Saturday in Blake Arena.