SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Sophomore outside hitter/right side Hunter Grotjohn (Scottsdale, Ariz./Horizon) posted a double-double with 12 kills and 12 digs, but the Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team was unable to overcome host Skidmore College in a 3-1 (25-22, 25-12, 18-25, 25-16) non-conference loss to Thoroughbreds on Wednesday evening at the Williamson Sports Center.
 
The Cardinals hit .117 for the match and put up a strong defensive effort at the net, finishing with a 6-3 edge in blocks. Both teams had seven service aces, and Skidmore wound up hitting .208 as a team.
 
Plattsburgh State drops to 6-16 overall with the loss and kicks off the final weekend of State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) Pool Play on Friday, Oct. 20, at 5 p.m. when it takes on Oswego State at SUNY Oneonta's Dewar Arena. Skidmore rises to 14-8 overall with the win and next visits Ithaca College on Friday, Oct. 20, at 6 p.m.
 
In the first set, the two teams traded momentum until Skidmore scored four consecutive points and took an 18-11 lead. Plattsburgh State closed the gap to one following a kill by freshman outside hitter Rachel Mennonna (Selden, N.Y./Newfield) and two Thoroughbred miscues, while back-to-back Skidmore attacking errors tied the score at 19-all. Each team scored three straight points until the Thoroughbreds went ahead for good with three unanswered points to close the set.
 
The Cardinals battled early in the second, and back-to-back Skidmore attacking errors knotted the score at 11-all. Skidmore went on to score 14 of the next 15 points, though, to win the second set, 25-12.
 
Skidmore looked to be on its way to a straight-set victory, seizing a 15-12 lead in the third set following a kill by junior outside hitter Caite Canfield. Plattsburgh State retaliated with four straight points and took a 16-15 advantage following a Thoroughbred attacking error. Skidmore then got the serve back before Plattsburgh State broke the set open with six consecutive points, and a Grotjohn kill staked the Cardinals to a 22-16 lead. Plattsburgh State ended up cruising to a 25-18 win in the third.
 
While Plattsburgh State hung tough in the beginning of the fourth set, Skidmore scored consecutive points on seven occasions during the set to clinch the match victory with a 25-16 triumph in the fourth.
 
Sophomore right side/setter Brianna Coon (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Plattsburgh) helped keep the Cardinal offense moving with 32 assists, and sophomore libero Bryanne Yasui (Honolulu, Hawaii/Moanalua) helped Grotjohn patrol the back row defensively with 17 digs. Freshman middle hitter/right side Michelle Simmons reinforced the front row with four total blocks (two solo, two assist).
 
For Skidmore, sophomore middle hitter Katy Ehnstrom and Canfield led the way with 15 and 13 kills, respectively, while sophomore setter/right side Lauren Wolters distributed 47 assists. Canfield completed the double-double with a match-high 21 digs.