Sarah Lawrence College Athletics

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. — The Sarah Lawrence College women's volleyball team opened its 2026 campaign in impressive fashion Thursday evening, sweeping Vassar College, 3-0 (25-21, 25-17, 25-23).

The Gryphons (1-0) controlled the match at the net, holding a commanding 9-2 advantage in blocks while also finishing with a .256 hitting percentage compared to .066 for the Brewers (0-1). Both teams recorded 33 kills and 38 digs, while Sarah Lawrence held a 49-43 edge in total points. Vassar finished with an 8-7 advantage in service aces and a 32-31 edge in assists.

Freshman Caroline Combs led the Gryphons in her collegiate debut, recording a match-high 15 kills while hitting .333. She also added four service aces and five digs. Nikolet Vataj contributed seven kills and two aces, while Sophia Costa directed the Sarah Lawrence offense with 29 assists. Costa also finished with five digs, three block assists, two kills, and an ace.

At the net, Olivia Richard and Charlee Leonard combined for 10 block assists and seven kills. Freshman Kai Perkins anchored the Gryphons defensively with a match-high 17 digs.

The opening set featured seven ties before Sarah Lawrence began to pull away. With the score knotted at 6-6, the Gryphons used a 4-1 run, highlighted by two Combs kills, to take a 10-7 advantage.

Vassar responded with four consecutive points to move in front, 11-10. The Brewers maintained a narrow lead until Sarah Lawrence trailed 18-17. The Gryphons then closed the set with a 6-1 run to take a 23-19 lead. Two Vassar errors finished off the set, 25-21.

Sarah Lawrence carried its momentum into the second set. After the teams battled to a 4-4 tie, a kill from Charlotte Siemsen sparked a 7-1 Gryphon run. Four Sarah Lawrence kills during the stretch helped the hosts build an 11-6 advantage.

The Gryphons maintained control from there, never surrendering the lead and taking the second set, 25-17, to move within one set of the sweep.

Vassar came out aggressively in the third set, scoring the first three points and building a 7-4 lead. Sarah Lawrence quickly responded, however, scoring six of the next seven points—including four Vassar errors—to take its first lead of the set at 10-7.

Combs continued to make an impact, accounting for four of the Gryphons' next six points as Sarah Lawrence extended its advantage to 16-10.

The Brewers refused to go quietly, putting together a five-point run to cut the deficit to one at 16-15. The teams then battled to a 20-20 tie before the Gryphons scored four straight points, including a pair of service aces from Vataj, to move within one point of victory.

Vassar answered with two consecutive aces and a Sarah Lawrence attack error to make it 24-23. With the match on the line, Combs delivered once again, recording her 15th kill of the night to seal the 25-23 set victory and complete the three-set sweep.

The Gryphons return to action Thursday, Sept. 3, when they host Pratt Institute at the Campbell Sports Center. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.