Potsdam, NY – The SUNY Canton Kangaroos volleyball team opened up the first round of play in the Victory Promotions Invitational on Friday night versus the Fredonia Blue Devils at Clarkson's Cheel Arena. The Roos dropped the contest in three straight sets despite a strong performance from sophomore outside hitter Shea Norton (Batavia, NY). Norton led the team in points, tallying 13.5 throughout the match. Junior setter Peyton Robinson (Bloomfield, NY) was the leader in assists with 30.

An 8-2 rally fueled the Roos in the first set to give them a 17-12 edge, but the Blue Devils battled back using a 13-5 run to win that set 25-22.

In the second set, the two teams found themselves tied up 13-13, but Fredonia used several assists from Hallie Christopher to string together a run. From there, the Blue Devils never looked back. Fredonia kept the lead until the end of the set despite a few threatening scoring streaks from the Roos.

It was Christopher again who led her team to a key rally in the third and final set. With SUNY Canton knocking on the door, she assisted some major plays while Fredonia pulled away on the back of an 11-6 rally to close out the third set 25-17. Christopher followed Robinson in the assists column as she set up 27 points for her team. Sophomore Jenna Roat (Penfield, NY) recorded 25 digs, and Marissa Ixtlahuac (Carthage, NY) was the leader in blocks with five. Norton and Ixtlahuac combined for 19 kills, as Fredonia's Kristen Stanek answered with 16 of her own to lead all players.

The women's volleyball team returns to action on the second day of the Victory Promotions Invitational when it takes on host SUNY Potsdam at 11 a.m. followed by a 1 p.m. match v. Keuka College.