The Union College women’s volleyball team dismantled SUNY Delhi in a 3-0 sweep on Wednesday evening inside the Viniar Athletic Center, hitting a scorching .375 attack percentage as junior Kayla Martinez Cartagena led the charge with 12 winners on 20 swings.
Unstoppable Opening Set Sets the Tone
The Garnet Chargers improved to 11-6 on the season by immediately overwhelming the Broncos in the opening frame. Union posted an astonishing .722 attack percentage in the first set alone, fueled by six kills from Martinez Cartagena. She reeled off three straight winners during an explosive 7-0 opening rally that propelled her squad to a commanding 25-7 edge.
SUNY Delhi, dropping to 1-16 on the year, managed to tighten the defensive rotation in the second set. The visitors stayed within striking distance down 16-13 midway through the frame. But senior Graciela Escobar stepped to the service line for Union, engineering a five-point run that effectively slammed the door on any potential comeback.
Depth Players Deliver Statistical Impact
Georgia Pinciaro joined Martinez Cartagena in double-digit kills, while senior Samantha Janker, first-year Johanna Melhorn, and sophomore Shea Ringel combined for eight errorless kills on 12 total attempts.
After junior Allie Kronenberg anchored the offense with seven assists in the first set, Scanlon took over in the final two frames. Scanlon finished with 20 assists and anchored the defensive backline with a single-match season-high 10 digs. Pinciaro and Janker each notched a block solo, while first-year Alexandra Googel recorded her first career block assist to cap off a five-block defensive performance.
| Team | Record | Set 1 Score | Match Attack Pct | Total Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union College | 11-6 | 25 | .375 | 5 |
| SUNY Delhi | 1-16 | 7 | N/A | N/A |
Historic Efficiency Ahead of Conference Clash
Wednesday’s performance marked the second match in which Union has hit over .370. It is the first time Union has hit .350 or better in back-to-back matches since October 2, 2015, during a tri-match against Morrisville and Hartwick.
Union continues its current homestand by returning to conference action on Friday, October 9, at 7:00 PM, hosting Skidmore inside the Viniar Athletic Center in a game that will determine if the surging squad can maintain its momentum.
