Rylie Gray
September 25, 2021

Gators Unable to Cool Off Red-Hot Cardinals

ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College was unable to cool off a red-hot St. John Fisher squad this afternoon in the Kahl Gymnasium, falling 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-20).

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ALBANY, N.Y. –  Russell Sage College faced a red-hot St. John Fisher squad this afternoon in the Kahl Gymnasium. The Gators played the visitors tightly throughout, but were unable to cool off the streaking Cardinals, falling 3-0 (25-16, 25-16, 25-20).

Senior outside hitter Emma Parkington (Dalton, MA/Wahconah Regional) topped RSC with eight kills in the Empire 8 Conference matinee. Senior middle hitter Celia Gagnon (Troy, NY/Ichabod Crane) contributed six kills on .316 hitting and two total blocks. Sophomore right side Statia Walker (Schodack, NY/Maple Hill) passed out 17 assists, while sophomore defensive specialist Rylie Gray (Bombay, NY/Salmon River Central) (above) elevated 12 Cardinal attacks, equaling a season-high.

Junior outside hitter Lindsey DeBonis (Scotia, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) topped St. John Fisher, now winners of eight-straight games, with 12 kills. Senior setter Kaite Leaty registered a double-double of 34 assists and 10 digs for the Cardinals (11-3/3-0 E8).
 
SJFC started the match strong, flying out to an 11-3 lead. Sage battled back, using a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to five at 16-11. Parkington and Gagnon combined for four kills during the stretch. From there, the Cardinals were able to keep RSC at bay, leading by at least four for the rest of the frame.
 
The Gators hung with the visitors early in the second stanza, forcing five deadlocks, including at 11, before a 5-0 STFC run allowed the Cardinals the breathing room needed to take the set. RSC continued to play St. John Fisher close in the third period, before falling.
 

Looking ahead, RSC (4-11/0-2 E8) competes at the Skidmore Tournament on Friday and Saturday. Fisher, now winners of nine of its last ten games, returns to the court on Tuesday, October 5 when it hosts SUNY Brockport.

Notes:  Parkington and Gagnon began the weekend among the E8 leaders in points per-set…Parkington, who recorded her 500th career kill on Saturday, September 11 at SUNY New Paltz, was sixth with 3.21 points per-set...The co-captain, currently with 601 career kills, has 13 career double-doubles, four of which came this season…Gagnon ranked seventh with 3.11 points per-set… Junior libero Elaina Moisidis (Albany, NY/Albany), who has been in double figures in digs for all but two of the matches this fall, ranked third in the conference with 4.63 digs per-set...She registered her 500th career dig on Saturday, September 11 at SUNY New Paltz...The RSC libero currently has 658 digs in her time as a Gator…Walker has contributed seven double-doubles this fall.

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