The Sandy Collins-coached volleyball team continues its early-season success as the Dutchwomen won matches from Hamilton and Clarkson last Saturday to increase their current win streak to 10 straight. Union, which is now 10-2, was ranked sixth in the NCAA's New York Region behind (1) Ithaca, (2) Nazareth (3) New York University (4) SUNY Oneonta, and (5) SUNY Cortland. Right behind Union was UCAA rival (7) Vassar with SUNY Geneseo rounding out the top eight teams.
Union, which has had only four home games all season, is 3-2 when it comes to winning the fifth-game tie-breaker. After losing to perennial powers Vassar and Skidmore (both in the fifth game) in the season-opening Vassar Tournament, the Dutchwomen defeated Elmira, 15-13 at Vassar. Union recently took tie-breaking victories over Oneonta and Middlebury, 15-13 and 15-4, respectively.
The October 2 match at Oneonta is a big one for both teams. Union puts its nine-game win streak on the line as do the Red Dragons, who have won nine in a row since losing to Union and sport and overall record of 18-3 including their 5-0 record in their conference.
Collins, now in her third season as the Dutchwomen's head coach, led Union to a college-record 25-win season last year, which earned the Dutchwomen their first-ever invitation to the ECAC postseason championship tournament.