Lots of games and wins this week in Skidmore athletics

Volleyball improved to 9-1 overall with a 4-0, first-place finish at this weekend's Union Invitational. The Thoroughbreds posted 3-0 wins over Cortland, Utica, Hartwick, and Sage.   Sophomore Carolyn Bottelier (Washington, D.C.) was selected to the All-Tournament team after averaging 10.5 kills per match. Junior Kelley Vershbow (Washington, D.C.) finished the tournament averaging 11 kills and 7.25 digs.   Skidmore travels to Oneonta this weekend for the Red Dragon Invitational. 

Field hockey posted a 6-1 win over local rival Union in its Liberty League opener this past Saturday.   Sophomore Ceilidh MacNeill (Framingham, Mass.) scored twice and senior Lauren McCarthy (Ipswich, Mass.) added a goal and an assist. The 13 ^th-ranked Thoroughbreds took control of the game after scoring four unanswered goals in a seven-minute, 39-second stretch at the end of the first half.   Skidmore improved to 3-1 and will travel to Oneonta Wednesday, Sept. 22, for a 4 p.m. start.

Men's and women's tennis both hosted Connecticut College this Sunday, with the men winning 9-0 and the women earning an 8-1 victory.

Junior Luke Granger (Allendale, N.J.) won 6-0, 6-2 at number-one doubles and teamed with senior Yahia Imam (Cairo, Egypt) for an 8-2 victory at number-two doubles. Senior Spencer Cheng (Bainbridge Island, Wash.) also posted a 2-0 record, winning 6-2, 6-0 at number-two doubles and an 8-6 win at number-one doubles with Jimmy Sherpa (West Vancouver, British Columbia). The Thoroughbreds return to action  Oct. 1, when they host the ITA Regionals.

For the women, freshman Melissa Hirsch (Alamo, Calif.) won 6-1, 6-4 at number-one singles and sophomore Nataly Mendoza (San Francisco, Calif.) earned a 6-1, 6-2 victory at number-two doubles.   Hirsch and Mendoza also teamed up for an 8-2 win at number-one doubles. The Thoroughbreds travel to the ITA Regionals, Sept. 25-26 at William Smith College.

Golf wrapped up a busy week, finishing third at the Golfweek Invitational last Tuesday in Orlando, followed by finishing tied for fourth at the Middlebury Duke Nelson Invitational on Sunday.   Freshman Scott Pinder (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) shot a 72-75-71-218 to tie for 15 ^th at Golfweek and senior Joe Flowers (Benton, Maine) tied for 5 ^th at Middlebury, shooting a 77-72-149.   Skidmore will defend its Liberty League Championship this Saturday and Sunday at Rochester.

Women's soccer posted a 1-1 record, defeating Manhattanville 3-0 Saturday and losing 2-0 Sunday at Middlebury.   In the Manhattanville victory, freshman Christine Bellotti (Medfield, Mass.) and juniors Lauren Madden (Huntington, N.Y.) and Abby Benton (Vergennes, Vt.) each scored a goal.   The Thoroughbreds are now 3-2-1 and host No. 4 William Smith at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, in their Liberty League opener.

Men's soccer went 0-2, suffering a pair of one-goal losses to Utica and Plattsburgh. Senior Matt Kelsey (Cambridge, Mass.) scored his fourth goal of the season at Utica and junior Nick Peterson (West Hartford, Conn.) made eight saves against Utica and five against Plattsburgh.   Skidmore fell to 3-3-1 on the season and travel to 17 ^th-ranked Hobart for its league opener at 4 p.m.  Friday, Sept. 24. ~ By Cody Berschwinger