Volleyball improves to 7-0 with two wins at Union Saturday

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. - The Williams College volleyball team kept rolling Saturday afternoon, as the Ephs improved to 7-0 on the season with 3-0 sweeps of Union and SUNY New Paltz during the Union/Russell Sage Crosstown Challenge at the Viniar Athletic Center on the campus of Union College.

Junior Keely Campuzano was named Tournament MVP for the weekend, while junior Tatum Baker joined Campuzano on the All-Tournament Team. The Ephs still have not lost a single set in 2025, going a perfect 21-0. Junior Morgan Daetz combined for 40 assists in the two matches and Campuzano recorded a total of 19 kills. First-year Eve Kaplan recorded 26 digs on the day. Williams also defeated Hartwick, 3-0, on Friday at the Kahl Campus Center in Albany, New York.

"We played some great volleyball this weekend as a team," said head coach Christi Kelsey. "We had lots of contributions across the board from everyone who was able to compete for us in all three matches. We certainly were tested in new ways and continue to learn about how we can play even better together."

During the first match Saturday against Union (6-3), Campuzano posted a team-leading 11 kills, while sophomore Chi Obi contributed with 10. Senior captain Helen Qian was outstanding defensively, tallying seven block assists and one solo block, while Daetz (team-high 22 assists, 7 digs) and sophomore Lilly Carstens (12 assists, 6 digs) filled up the box score. Sophomore Kate Lane led all student-athletes with 12 digs, while also contributing with six kills.

In the first set, Williams trailed, 15-13, but the visitors responded with five consecutive points and a kill by sophomore Maya Thompson gave the Ephs an 18-15 lead. Williams scored seven of the next 11 points to earn a 25-19 victory. The group overcame an early 2-0 deficit in the second set to claim a 25-16 triumph on a kill by Baker. A kill by Thompson clinched the match and a 25-18 third-set victory.

Against New Paltz (6-3), Daetz and Kaplan led all student-athletes with 18 assists and 17 digs, respectively. Baker tallied a match-leading nine kills and Campuzano posted eight. The Ephs never trailed in the first set and earned a 25-12 win on back-to-back service points by Kaplan.

The Hawks raced out to a 6-1 advantage during the second, but Williams rallied and went on a 24-8 run for the remainder of the set, earning a 25-14 triumph on an ace by Kaplan. The third set followed the same path as the first, with Williams never trailing, and the Ephs secured the match and a 25-17 victory on a kill by Baker.

The Ephs open NESCAC action Friday with a 7 p.m. match against Trinity in Hartford, Connecticut, and then travel to Connecticut College for a 2 p.m. match Saturday in New London, Connecticut.

"It is exciting to be undefeated in the first two weeks of season, but we know that each weekend ahead, especially with the NESCAC schedule, the competition is only going to get tougher and tougher," said Kelsey. "We are proud of this team and excited to get back in the gym Monday to prepare for Trinity and Connecticut College."