SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team closed out action at the Union Invitational on Saturday at the Viniar Athletic Center, falling to Skidmore College, 3-1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-16), before dropping a 3-0 (25-9, 25-21, 25-13) decision to host Union College.
 
Junior middle blocker Michelle Simmons (Riverside, Calif./Riverside Poly) eclipsed the program's career block assist record during its match against Skidmore, as she topped the former mark of 162 set by Kristin Steele from 2003-05. She finished the day with 166 block assists to her credit.

Plattsburgh State falls to 4-7 overall with the losses and next hosts SUNY Potsdam on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. in its State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) opener. Skidmore moves to 3-5 overall, while Union moves to 6-4 overall.
 
Skidmore 3, Plattsburgh State 1 (23-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-16)
 
The Cardinals challenged the Thoroughbreds throughout the entirety of the opening match of the day, as there were 16 tie scores and 16 lead changes.
 
Skidmore hit .182 for the match, including a .346 clip in the third set, and finished with a 73-61 edge in digs. Both teams served up 11 aces, while Plattsburgh State won the battle at the net with a 13-6 advantage in blocks.
 
Simmons led the Cardinals with seven kills and a career-high 10 total blocks (two solo, eight assist), while junior setter/defensive specialist Allyssa Rock (West Chazy, N.Y./Beekmantown) doled out 15 assists. Senior outside hitter Megan Hyde (Schenectady, N.Y./Schalmont) and junior outside hitter Rachel Mennonna (Selden, N.Y./Newfield) registered 15 digs apiece, while junior libero Abby Bone (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Beekmantown) defended 14 digs.
 
For Skidmore, freshman outside hitter Chelsea Winegar and senior outside hitter Sophia Hettler paced the offense with 13 and 10 kills, respectively, while freshman setter/right side Audrey Powell and senior setter/hitter Lauren Wolters combined for 42 assists. Winegar's 17 digs led five Thoroughbreds who reached double figures in the statistical category, as she finished with a double-double along with Hettler, who had 15 digs. Powell excelled at the service line with five aces.
 
Union 3, Plattsburgh State 0 (25-9, 25-21, 25-13)
 
Union outhit Plattsburgh State by a .400-to-.160 margin in the nightcap, as the Dutchwomen cruised to a straight-set victory.
 
The Dutchwomen held the upper hand in digs (43-32) and service aces (15-3), while both teams had three blocks.
 
Mennonna keyed the Cardinal offense with seven kills, while Rock distributed 16 assists. Defensively, Simmons and freshman outside hitter/opposite Jenn Braun (Garrison, N.Y./Walter Panas) had two block assists, while Hyde defended nine digs.
 
For Union, junior middle blocker Katie Moss led the way with 12 kills and a .571 hitting percentage, while freshman setter Haley Kresch and junior setter Sage Shimamoto combined for 36 assists. Junior defensive specialist Kaylee Velasquez shored up the back row defensively with 13 digs.