Canton, NY – The SUNY Canton women's volleyball team battled to the end but ultimately fell in a pair of five set matches to visiting Oswego State and Elmira College on Saturday in the Roos Classic.

The Roos (6-17) fell 3-2 (25-19, 19-25, 19-25, 25-17, 15-11) in the opener despite a strong performance in the second and third sets against Oswego State before dropping a 3-2 (20-25, 17-25, 25-22, 25-18, 15-9) decision to the Soaring Eagles (14-9).

Match 1

Both teams battled back in forth the opening set with Oswego State clinging to a 15-13 lead part way through the opening set. The Lakers extended their lead to 21-16 and held on for a 25-19 first set win. The Roos jumped out to an 8- start in the second frame and led 20-15 before evening the match at one apiece with a 25-19 win.

SUNY Canton took its first lead of the match scoring the final four points of the set after a Lakers time out to take the third set, 25-19. Oswego State forced a fifth set jumping out to a 14-6 lead on its way to a 25-17 win in the fourth.

The Roos trailed 10-4 in the final set but battled back to get within 12-11 before the Lakers scored the final three points for the victory.

Marissa Ixtlahuac led the Roos offensively with 12 kills hitting .400 (12-2-25), while Melissa McMaster hit .276 (10-2-29). Shea Norton had a strong outing both offensively (9 kills) and defensively (15 digs). The Roos had a strong outing from the service line with 17 aces including a match-high six from Jocelyn Racette. Peyton Robinson posted a double-double with 30 assists and 16 digs, while Jenna Roat added a team-best 22 digs.

Match 2

SUNY Canton got off to a strong start in its second match of the day winning the first two sets, 25-20 and 25-17, but Elmira battled back to take the third and fourth frames by scores of 25-22 and 25-18.

The Roos fell behind 5-0 in the deciding fifth set but battled back to knot the game at six apiece. Elmira rattled off three straight points to take a 9-6 lead forcing a Canton timeout. The Soaring Eagles rallied to close out the final set, 15-9.

McMaster had a big match posting a season-high 15 kills, while Norton added seven kills and 14 digs. Robinson dished out 32 assists to go with her 18 digs. Roat tallied 22 digs and Racette and Ixtlahuac pinpointed four service aces each.

The women's volleyball team is back in action on the second day of the Roos Classic on Sunday when it hosts the University of Maine Fort and SUNY Potsdam at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.