WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Sage hosts Union in Crankin' for a Cure match

Troy, NY----The Sage Colleges women's volleyball team hosted regional foe, Union College in the third annual Crankin' for a Cure match on Wednesday night in the Neff Athletic Center. Union College would triumph in three sets, 3-0 (25-22, 25-13, 25-17). With the win, Union is now 16-11 overall and Sage drops to 8-17.

Union's sophomore hitter Eve Richards (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) would rack up 10 kills with eight digs, while junior Jordan Remillard (Camillus, NY/West Genesee) added 10 kills and three blocks. Senior co-captain, Veronica Mynders (Greenville, NY/Minisink Valley) added a team-high 21 digs, while junior Erika Van Valkenburg (Baldwinsville, NY/Charles W. Baker) handed out 30 assists for the Dutchwomen.

For the Gators, senior middle hitter Kelli Jones (Troy, NY/Troy) had a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs. Junior Sarah Peacock (Duanesburg, NY/Duanesburg) added seven kills with 10 digs, while junior middle hitter Nicole Corbett (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) added four kills.

Sage's sophomore Kelsey Wilson (Schenectady, NY/Bishop Gibbins) connected for 10 digs, while sophomore Kristyn Buonincontra (Shelton, CT/Shelton) handed out 18 assists with six digs.

The contest marked the third annual Crankin' for a Cure match featuring The Sage Colleges and Union College. Over the past two years, Sage and Union College have joined forces in conjunction with the American Volleyball Coaches Association program, Passionately Pink for the Cure® to raise funds for the fight against breast cancer. Nearly $400 was raised at the contest on Wednesday evening, while on-line donations have not been tallied as of yet.

The event in 2008, which featured pink jerseys for both teams, was titled "Passionately Pink for the Cure" and nearly $600 was raised on site for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure program for breast cancer research. Including online and other donations, the event raised over $1800.  The late Dr. Aggie Stillman was honored before the match began. 

Stillman was a much-loved member of the Sage Community for over 35 years, who lost her battle with cancer in 2008. She arrived at Russell Sage in 1971 as an instructor in physical education. By 1980, she had become Associate Professor and served as head coach for both softball and women's tennis. In 1994, she was appointed to Associate Professor of Library Science and Director of Archives. Aggie never missed an athletic contest and was inducted in Sage's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002. She is missed every day.

Participating is simple!  Fans at the contest were asked to make a donation of $5 or more to Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the leader of the global breast cancer movement. The AVCA has been involved with breast cancer awareness the past few years. Each October, which is national breast cancer awareness month, volleyball programs at every level of the game have been coming together to raise money and awareness for breast cancer research.

If you'd like to contribute online, please visit either www.Sagegators.com or Union College's Athletic web site and you can use the on-line form. In return for your contribution, you'll get a pink ribbon pin and the satisfaction of helping to move us closer to a world free of breast cancer.

Among the other activities held in conjunction with the evening, Sage's Department of Athletics and Recreation honored Dr. Susan Scrimshaw on the eve of her inauguration as Sage's ninth President, making her an honorary coach.

The Gators will return to action travelling to Bard College for a Skyline Conference tri-match on October 24 commencing at 1 p.m., while Union College will travel to Skidmore College on October 23 for a tri-match with FDU Florham and Clarkson University commencing at 6 p.m.

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