WVB: Lasers split two matches in final day of Skidmore Classic

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Lasell University women's volleyball team split its two matches Saturday in the Skidmore Classic. The Lasers defeated Sage College 3-1 in the first match of the day, then lost in their second match to Skidmore College 3-0. The Lasers' record is now 5-13 overall.

Lasell 3, Sage 1

Sophomore outside hitter Kiana Perez Diaz (Juncos, P.R.) finished with another double-double with 23 kills and 16 digs. Senior Amanda DiLeonardo (West Haven, Conn.) and sophomore Corina Lombardi (York, Maine) helped contribute to the attack. DiLeonardo finished with 13 kills while Lombardi added eight. Freshman Karissa Gaughan (Granby, Conn.) averaged 4.74 digs per set with a total of 19 in the match as she led all passers.

The Lasers took their first lead of the set at 16-15 and didn't lose the advantage again. A kill from sophomore Meg Roberts (Newington, Conn.) ended the first set, 25-21.

Lasell won the second set by the same margin 25-21 but this time the set was close all the way through. Late in the set, the Lasers seemed to find their game as they managed to take a 20-19 lead on a kill from Perez Diaz.

Sage edged the Lasers in the third set to force a fourth set. The Lasers gained control quite early in the fourth. Leading by as many as 11 points, they closed out the match with a convincing 25-15 win.

Skidmore 3, Lasell 0

Skidmore's offense proved to be too much to handle for the Lasers as the home team defeated Lasell in straight sets, 3-0. Sophia Hettler (New York, N.Y.) led the charge for the Thoroughbreds as she accumulated 11 kills in three sets. Defensive specialist Elizabeth Miller (Hyde Park, NY.) totaled a team high 14 digs in the victory.

For the visiting Lasers, Perez Diaz finished with 12 kills and 15 digs. DiLeonardo joined her on the defensive end with 15 digs as well.

In the first set, Skidmore jumped ahead 14-10 and ran with it from there. The Lasers kept it close through the end of the set but couldn't cover enough ground to gain a lead.

In the second and third sets, the Thoroughbreds earned the first point of each set and never lost a lead from there. The balanced offense from the hosting team was too much for Lasell to match. Skidmore would go on to win 25-15 and 25-12 in the second and third sets.

The Lasers will head to Boston, Mass. on Wednesday, October 9, to face Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponent Emmanuel College at 7 p.m.

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