Senior defensive specialist Lily Snide had a career-high 16 digs in her final collegiate game as the St. Lawrence University volleyball team closed its season on a high note with a come-from-behind 3–2 win over SUNY Potsdam (18-25, 24-26, 25-19, 25-17, 15-13).
The Saints finished the year with a 17-11 overall record, which equals their 2021 team record when the team qualified for the Liberty League championship game.
"We didn't have our greatest start by any means, but I'm very proud of the grittiness our team showed in pulling out the win," said Saints head coach Shelly Roiger. "They never panicked and the end of set four and beginning of set five was some of our best volleyball of the season. A reverse sweep is a pretty awesome way for the team to end the season and for our seniors to end their career. They are a tremendous group of young women and I'm glad they will always have this win to remember as their 2025 finale."
Potsdam jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in the opening set, and although kills from Araiza Acum-Santos and Adeline Riesenberger helped the Saints chip away, they were unable to pull ahead. The Bears finished strong, scoring five of the final seven points to take the first set.
The second set followed a similar pattern as the Bears raced to a 7-2 advantage. St. Lawrence responded with a four-point run fueled by Potsdam errors and a kill from Vanessa Latam, pulling within striking distance. After the Saints tied the set at 24-24, the Bears scored the final two points to take a 2-0 match lead.
St. Lawrence flipped the momentum in the third, jumping out to a 6-2 lead and maintaining control throughout. The Saints recorded five service aces in the set, and their early cushion proved key as the teams traded points down the stretch before SLU secured its first set win of the match.
In the fourth, the Saints overcame a slow start after dropping three of the first four points to tie the score at 6-6. From there, they capitalized on Potsdam errors and kept steady pressure. Leading 18-16 late, the Saints allowed just one more point to force a decisive fifth set.
In the finale, St. Lawrence opened with an 8-0 run and held off a late Potsdam surge to seal the victory. The Bears battled back within two, but costly attack errors helped the Saints close out the match and the season with a hard-fought win.
Acum-Santos led all hitters with 20 kills, while Riesenberger added 16, matching her career high in her final collegiate appearance. Bridget Gammons led the Saints at the net with four blocks, and Latam paced the offense with 44 assists, tying her season best. Snide's career-best dig mark beat her previous best, which was set during her first-year season in a match against SUNY Potsdam.
