WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - The Williams College volleyball team opened its 2025 campaign with a 3-0 victory over visiting Skidmore, seeing contributions from 13Â different student-athletes on Tuesday evening in Chandler Gymnasium.
The Ephs jumped out to an early lead and were up 16-8 in the first set, but the Thoroughbreds stormed back and tied the set at 22 before a Keely Campuzano kill and a Lilly Fox block returned the momentum to Williams, which closed out the first set, 25-23, on a kill from Fox.
The second set saw runs from both teams and it stayed close throughout, but two consecutive kills from Chi Obi late in the set put Skidmore away. The visitors jumped ahead in the third and Skidmore led 10-9 before a run from Williams ran the score up to 19-12. First-year Adalena Rodgers had four kills and an ace in the third set, with the Ephs winning, 25-18.
Sophomore Kate Lane filled the score sheet for the Ephs, tying for the team lead with eight kills, leading all student-athletes with four aces, and adding eight digs. Obi also had eight kills and led Williams with a pair of block assists, while Campuzano added seven kills. Morgan Daetz had 24 assists and eight digs, while Eve Kaplan led the squad with 13 digs.
"It has been an incredible start to the preseason with this team," said head coach Christi Kelsey. "Tonight is just the start, but it was a really good reflection of just how deep our team is and how there are so many people that can help us play at an incredibly high level when we are playing for each other."
"We couldn't ask for a better way to kick off the year with a complete team win. Still lots of room to grow and improve, but really happy overall with this first match."
The Ephs will travel west this weekend for three matches - facing SUNY Geneseo on Friday and Oneonta and Nichols on Saturday - all in Skidmore's Williamson Sports Center in Saratoga Springs, New York.
