First-year Natalie Piper recorded 14 kills and senior Grace Kelly totaled 18 digs to lead the St. Lawrence University volleyball team to a 3-1 non-conference win over SUNY Canton on Tuesday evening in Canton, New York.

The Roos took the first set 25-13, but the Saints rebounded and claimed the second, third and fourth sets by scores of 25-22, 25-22 and 25-23 for the win.

Piper also added ten digs, while Kelly recorded a second-best nine kills for the Saints. Piper and Maddy Bishop each recorded four service aces, while Julia Wagner posted a season-best five blocks and Bishop assisted on 15 plays.

A point-for-point battle to start the first set, the Saints took a 4-3 lead, but the Roos went on a 12-1 run to take a 15-5 lead over the Saints. A kill from Wagner put the Saints back on the scoreboard, but the Roos extended their lead 17-7 and went on to take the first set 25-13.

Looking to rebound, the Scarlet and Brown started the second set with a 3-0 advantage and improved that lead to 5-2 with back-to-back service aces from Piper. A kill from Marissa Parker improved the Saints' lead to 11-7 and Piper put the Saints up 17-9 with another kill. The Roos rallied, bringing the set back within three points, but the Saints maintained their lead, claiming the second set 25-22.

In the third set, St. Lawrence took a 5-3 lead on a Roos' service error. After a back-and-forth battle down the stretch, the Saints held a slight 23-22 lead and finished off the third set with a kill from Kelly for the 25-22 win.

The Saints opened the fourth set with a 5-0 run, but SUNY Canton proved relentless, bouncing back to tie the set at 10. The Roos took their first lead of the set, 13-12, but the score was evened twice by the Saints before they improved their lead to 16-15. A double block from Kelly and Mac Barnes increased that advantage to 17-15.

Heading into the final points, SUNY Canton took a 22-21 lead in hopes of forcing a fifth set, but the Saints evened the score at 22 and secured the 25-23 win on an attacking error from the Roos.  

"Tonight's win was a very ugly one," said head coach Shelly Roiger. "We tried some different combinations of things in the first set and it became clear pretty early that we need to spend more practice time on that topic. The team responded well in set two when we went back to what was familiar. Overall, it was just a night with a lot of whistles and there was little flow to the game. We were fortunate to walk out of the gym with a win. We play Canton again on Friday and there's no doubt in my mind that both of us will be better than we both were tonight."

Melissa McMaster led the Roos with 12 kills, while Peyton Robinson tallied 35 assists, Tatum Lafrance recorded nine aces and Jenna Roat added a team-best 18 digs.

SUNY Canton held a 44-42 advantage in kills and topped the Saints in all categories, except for blocks.

With the win, the Saints improved to 9-5 on the season, while the Roos fell to 8-5.

St. Lawrence will co-host the Canton Classic with the Roos on September 28-29. The Saints will face SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Canton at home on Friday and Cazenovia College on Saturday at SUNY Canton.