Chicopee, Mass.: The SUNY Cobleskill women's volleyball team opened their season by splitting a pair of matches at the 2019 Blazer Invitational hosted by Elms College on Friday evening. In their opening match the Fighting Tigers posted an impressive 3-1 decision over the Falcons of Albertus Magnus College by set scores of: 19-25, 25-18, 25-19 and 25-16. Cobleskill then closed the day by losing a 3-0 decision to the Lakers of Oswego State College by scores of: 25-7, 25-16 and 25-10. By virtue of the split the Fighting Tigers open the season with a 1-1 overall record.

In the opening win over the Falcons the Fighting Tiger rallied back from a first set loss to dominate the action at the net as the Orange & Black posted 37 kills on a .065 hitting percentage to go with nine total blocks to post the victory.

Junior setter Maleigha Ellithorpe, Cazenovia, N.Y., Cazenovia High School/Onondaga Community College, quarterbacked the win with 28 assists, 11 digs and four service aces while senior right side hitter Regan Hubner, Miller Place, N.Y., Rocky Point High School, chipped in a team high of eight kills to go with 11 digs. Senior libero Mikayla Catherman, Marietta, N.Y., Marcellus High School, was active with 27 digs to go with a pair of service aces with sophomore middle hitter Jillian Nitchman, Ballston Spa, N.Y., Ballston Spa High School, adding six kills, three total blocks and four digs to the team's victory totals.

In the loss to Oswego State, the Fighting Tigers could not sustain an offensive attack posting only 13 kills on a -101 hitting percentage while committing 12 receiving errors and seven service errors in the match.

Senior right side hitter/setter Alyssa Boyles, Pine Plaines, N.Y., Stissing Mountain High School, was a bright spot in the match for the Orange & Black with three kills, three assists and a pair of digs.

Cobleskill will next be in action on Saturday August 31^st when they close out the tournament with a match versus the host Lighting of Elms College beginning at 9:30 a.m.