Schenectady, N.Y. – September 15, 2023 – The Springfield College women's volleyball team opened up the Union/Russell Sage Crosstown Challenge on Friday night with straight-set victories over Union and Oneonta in the Viniar Athletic Center.

The two victories boost the Pride's record to 9-1 on the season. 

On Saturday, Springfield will wrap up weekend play when they play Nichols at 2 pm. 

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Springfield 3, Union 0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-18)

Riley Donahue (South Windsor, Conn.) led all players with 12 kills, while Natalie Billet (Commack, N.Y.) chipped in six kills and nine digs.  Maeve Voltz (Bay Shore, N.Y.) contributed six kills and four blocks out of the middle and  Ally Townsend (Hummelstown, Pa.) was credited with a match-best 12 digs.  Tori Colosimo (Fairport, N.Y.) registered 30 assists in directing the Pride's offense in the victory.

Even at 16-16 in the first set, Voltz and Donahue would each register a kill and team up for a block as part of a 4-0 burst as it ran away with a 25-19 win. Donahue finished the frame with five kills in a stanza where Springfield hit .312.

After falling behind 5-0 in the second, Springfield answered back with a 12-2 push, getting a kill from Donahue to earn a 12-7 edge.  After Union pulled within 21-20, the visitors closed out the stanza with a 4-1 burst, as Olivia Gentry (Cincinatti, Ohio) ended the game with a stuff block in the middle.  Donahue had another five kills in the frame. 

Colosimo blisterd an ace as part of an early third-quarter surge and Union called for a timeout trailing 11-2.  Seven different student-athletes had a kill in the set and Voltz completed the sweep as she converted out of the middle at 25-18. 

Springfield 3, Oneonta 0 (25-16, 26-15, 25-20)

The Pride registered 17 service aces in the sweep of Oneonta, with Morgan Stafford (Corbett, Ore.) accounting for five winners from the end line. Eight different players had at least two kills in the win, as Rachel Hegarty (Manhasset, N.Y.) notched eight kills and Olivia Nealy (Athens, Ga.) terminated seven kills on 10 errorless attempts. Colosimo added 26 assists in the win.

Knotted up a 4-4 in the opener, the Pride used a 14-2 run to break open the set thanks to some tremendous serving as Springfield would account for seven aces in the 25-16 victory.

The teams were tied at six in the second, only to have Springfield rattle off four-straight points to take control.  A kill from Gentry would balloon the lead to 20-9 as the Pride hit .368 en route to the 26-15 victory.

Six ties and three lead changes in the third would eventually result in Springfield accounting for six service aces in what would be a 25-20 win. Clinging to a 15-13 advantage, the Pride would use a 9-2 to break things open. Nealy was dominant in the frame, totaling five kills for the Pride.