CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Union College women’s volleyball team split a pair of matches on day one of the Pacific Coast Classic, rebounding from a 3-1 loss to Chapman University by sweeping Occidental College, 3-0, at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps’ Roberts Pavilion on Friday.
Junior Shannon McGrath got her season off to a good start for Union (1-1), combining for 28 kills and 20 digs in seven sets. First-year Allie Kronenberg began her collegiate career well with 68 assists and junior Georgia Pool recorded a team-leading 33 digs, while sophomores Erin Stevens and Maddie McCarron led the team at the net with six blocks apiece.
Chapman 3, Union 1 (25-21, 20-25, 25-13, 25-23)
Union hung with Chapman for most of the match to start the day, but a pair of close sets went the way of the Panthers to provide the difference. McGrath paced the offensive attack with 16 kills on .317 hitting and added 11 digs, and she was joined in the double-double club by Kronenberg with a match-high 36 assists and 13 digs. Union also finished the match with eight blocks, led by Stevens with five.
The first set of the season was very tightly contested, with neither side leading by more than one point until Chapman grabbed a 13-11 advantage. The Panthers led 18-17 before a mini 4-1 run opened up the largest lead of the frame at 22-18, and that was enough to give Chapman the opening set. Both teams hit extremely well to start the match, with Union making only two errors with 14 kills (.293) and Chapman putting down 19 kills with four errors (.319).
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