Natalie Piper posted a team-best 20 kills, while Grace Kelly and Marissa Parker added 12 and nine respectively, but the Union Dutchwomen rallied to top the St. Lawrence University volleyball team 3-2 in Liberty League play on Saturday afternoon in Burkman Gymnasium.

Kelly also led the Saints with three service aces and recorded 14 digs, while Amanda Teppo posted seven blocks, Ally Good assisted on 21 plays and Reagan Collier-Hogan finished with 19 kills.

Union claimed the first set of the day by a score of 25-17, but the Saints rallied, taking the next two by scores of 25-19 and 25-18, but the Dutchwomen proved resilient finishing the match by winning the next two sets 25-23 and 15-11.

In the second set, St. Lawrence took an early 8-5 lead with a kill from Kelly and improved its lead to 14-10 with a kill from Piper. A 5-2 run and a Union attacking error gave the Saints a 23-17 lead and Piper sealed the set with a kill.

The Scarlet and Brown jumped out to another early lead in the third set, topping the Dutchwomen 8-2. Back-to-back kills from Kelly and a tipped set from Ally Good put the Saints up 14-9 and an 8-3 run down the stretch finished off the third set in favor of the Saints.

In the fourth set, Union overcame an early deficit, tying the set at 20 on a 6-2 run and posting the 25-23 victory with a kill from Steph Libonati to force the fifth set.

In the final set, Union edged the Saints 8-4 and held the lead through the remainder of the set. A huge kill from Kelly put the Saints within three, but Sage Shimamoto set up Lara Atalay for the win.

"Today was just another example of the same problem that has plagued us all season, toughness at the end of close set situations," said head coach Shelly Roiger. "We had multiple opportunities to put Union away and to their credit, every time we left the door open, they took advantage of it. This loss is 100% on us with no excuses and no finger pointing. We will take ownership of it, walk our talk of being better in the future and continue our journey with a productive week of practice as we prepare for our final two matches of the 2018 season."

The Dutchwomen were led by Atalay with 24 kills, while Shimamoto recorded 43 assists and Emma Sprotbery added a team-high 21 digs.

Union edged the Saints in kills (59-54), assists (53-51) and digs (73-66), but the Scarlet and Brown topped the Dutchwomen in blocks (10-4) and aces (6-3).

With the loss, the Saints fell to 17-9 on the season and 1-6 in conference play, while Union improved to 14-9 and 3-4.

St. Lawrence will conclude the 2018 season at the SUNY Oneonta Invitational on Saturday, October 27.