SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Senior setter Kristen Guercio (Smithtown/Smithtown East) became Cortland's career assist leader as the nationally ninth-ranked Red Dragons won their opening two matches at the eight-team Union College Invitational.

Guercio surpassed the mark with her 61 assists in Cortland's four-set win over Skidmore, 21-25, 25-20, 31-29, 25-22, then added 32 assists in a three-set sweep versus Hartwick, 25-9, 25-21, 25-21. Guercio now has 4,944 assists in her four seasons at Cortland, breaking the previous record of 4,892 set by Brittney Horton from 2005-08.

Cortland (11-0) will face Union Saturday at noon and Utica at 2 p.m. Cortland, Union and Oneonta are each 2-0 after the opening day of play.

Senior Ashley Coyle (Mt. Hope/Minisink Valley) led Cortland against Skidmore with 19 kills and 25 digs. Junior Ava Hintz (East Aurora) finished with 18 kills and two blocks and senior Natalie Zacpal (Islip) added 16 kills and four blocks.

Freshman Kim Givelechian (Roslyn Heights/Herricks) chipped in with 11 kills and 19 digs and junior Krissy Silk (Massapequa Park/Massapequa) totaled 13 digs and two aces. Guercio recorded five kills and seven digs in addition to her 61 assists, which are her most ever in a four-set match and her second-best total ever behind a 68-assist effort in a five-set match versus Case Western Reserve in the 2010 NCAA playoffs.

Freshman Kayla Pollock (Massapequa) paced the Red Dragons versus Hartwick with eight kills, four digs and two aces. Freshman Sydney Hayward (Trumansburg), Givelechian and Hintz added seven kills apiece. Hayward also tallied seven digs, Givelechian hit at an .875 clip (no errors in eight attempts) and Hintz finished with two blocks and two aces.

Sophomore Mary Kelly (Guilderland) put down six kills, Silk recorded 11 digs and three aces and Guercio finished with eight digs along with her 32 assists.

Tournament Web Page