SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Hamilton College Continentals won both of their non-conference matches at Union College's Viniar Athletic Center on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 24.
Season Update
- Hamilton (9-8 overall) won for the third time in its last four matches.
- Union (17-7), which is 4-2 in the Liberty League, had won its last nine matches before the Continentals took down the Garnet Chargers.
- University of Mount Saint Vincent (5-15), which is 2-5 in the Skyline Conference, lost its fourth straight match.
Mount Saint Vincent match (25-17, 25-19, 25-6)
How It Happened
- Hamilton took the lead for good in the first set with four straight points for a 10-6 advantage. Mackenzie Sickinger '28 and Ayzlinn Trefren '28 bookended the spurt with kills. The Continentals pulled away with six consecutive points for a commanding 23-14 lead. A kill by Lana Cvijetinovic '30 closed out the set.
- Mount Saint Vincent held a 7-5 edge in the second set when Hamilton went on a 10-2 run and went up 15-9. The Dolphins didn't get closer than three points the rest of the set. An ace by Zua Vang '29 and a Sickinger kill were the final two points of the set.
- The third set was still up for grabs at 8-6 before a service error by UMSV. Liza Beigel '28 was subbed in to take the next serve for the Continentals and she didn't stop until the set and the match were over. Hamilton ran off 17 points in a row including two kills by Allie Steel '28 that ended the match.
Notes
- The Continentals hit .325 as a team (36 kills-9 errors-83 attempts) and served 10 aces. Hamilton doubled up the Dolphins in kills (36-18) and blocks (6-3).
- Elodie McGeiver '27 led the Continentals with nine kills.
- Steel added eight kills and a .462 hitting percentage (8-2-13).
- Sickinger helped lead the defense at the net with three blocks. Sickinger, McGeiver and Steel accounted for nine points each.
- Grace Seaman '29 passed out a career-high 22 assists.
- Vang and Trefren topped Hamilton with three aces apiece.
- In her third collegiate match, Cvijetinovic came up with three blocks.
- Mia Jessen '28 posted a team-high 10 digs. Jessen has been in double figures in digs 11 times in the last 12 matches.
Union match (25-18, 25-23, 22-25, 25-21)
How It Happened
- The Continentals broke open a tight first set with seven straight points for a 20-14 lead. Hamilton ran off the set's last three points on a kill by McGeiver and two by Trefren.
- The Garnet Chargers led by as many as six points on three occasions in the second set, including 10-4. Hamilton clawed back into contention and went ahead for the first time at 15-14. Neither team led by more than three points the rest of the set and the score was tied at 23-23 after three in a row by Union. The Continentals closed it out on kills by Trefren and Seaman.
- A sweep seemed likely when Hamilton led 18-14 in the third set. Union responded with a 10-3 run that put the Garnet Chargers on the doorstep of winning the set and extending the match. A Hamilton attack error on the second set point clinched the set for Union.
- Neither team led by more than two points in the fourth set until the Continentals were able to string together five in a row for a 13-8 lead. The Garnet Chargers never went back in front, but they tied the score twice at 19-19 and 21-21. After the latter deadlock, Hamilton ticked off four straight points and ended the match. Trefren had three kills during the match-ending spurt, and Seaman and Cvijetinovic added block assists.
Notes
- The match was the first between the two teams since 2013.
- The Continentals hit .300 (14-2-40) in the fourth set.
- Trefren smashed a career-high 21 kills, eclipsing her previous best of 17 from one week ago. She added 21 digs for the first 20-20 match of her Hamilton career. Trefren hit .422 with just two errors in 45 total attempts. She's tied for the NESCAC lead with 3.37 kills, is first in the conference with 4.05 points, third with 0.52 aces and fifth with 3.77 digs per set.
- Seaman owned the unusual double-double of 15 kills and 17 assists. Her kill total was a career best.
- Lucy Proud '29 dished out a career-high 27 assists and tied a season best with three aces.
- Cvijetinovic led the defense at the net with four blocks. She had the first seven blocks of her collegiate career on Saturday.
- Vang's 18 digs were one off her season high.
Next Match
The Continentals host Trinity College (15-5, 3-5 NESCAC) for a conference match on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m.
