Elmira, NY – The Elmira College Women's Volleyball team dropped just one set over four matches and two days as they claimed the EC Invitational Tournament title. They won two more matches on Saturday to remain undefeated at 5-0 on the season. The Soaring Eagles struck past Utica College 3-0 (25-6, 25-13, 25-15) in their first match and held off Houghton College 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-16) in their second match-up of the day.
The Purple and Gold got out to a quick 11-1 start in the first set against the Pioneers as they cruised to a 25-6 win. The success allowed Head Coach Rhonda Faunce to get some younger players into the game. Kierra LaForge '15 (Wellsboro, PA -- Wellsboro), Melanie Pershyn '13 (Lakeview, NY -- Frontier) and Abbie Martin '14 (Broadalbin, NY -- Broadalbin-Perth) all saw their first action of the season, contributing to the win.
LaForge finished with three service aces; while EC registered 17 aces as a unit. Sasha Zavadska '13 (Bratislava, SVK -- The British School) and Taryn Rumsey '14 (Mansfield, PA -- Mansfield) led the charge in the kills department with 11 and 10, respectively. Brittany Raykoske '12 (Johnstown, NY -- Gloversville) led the team with five service aces. Pershyn finished with a team-high 19 assists, while Molly Short '13 (Sterling, CO -- Sterling) added 12 assists.
In their second match the Soaring Eagles beat a tough Houghton College squad 3-0. The teams played back and forth in the first set pretty evenly. With the scored tied at 19, the Purple and Gold went on a 6-1 run to close out the first set. EC carried that momentum into a hard fought second set, which they won 25-20, before closing out the Highlanders 25-16.
Zavadska led the way with 13 kills, eight digs and two aces. Jessica Hull '15 (Ypsilanti, MI -- Milan) had an impressive game notching 10 kills, and Rumsey tallied nine kills and four aces.
The Soaring Eagles had three members of the squad named to the All-Tournament Team, including the most valuable player as they earned the tournament championship.
Tournament Champions: Elmira College
All-Tournament Team
MVP: Sasha Zavadska '13 – Elmira College
Brittany Raykoske '12 – Elmira College
Taryn Rumsey '14 – Elmira College
Melinda DiGiovanna '12 – SUNY New Paltz
Laura Stanhewicz '13 – SUNY New Paltz
Rebecca Denee '13 – Houghton College
Courtney Desmond '13 – Hartwick College
Tournament Results
Friday, September 9, 2011
Court #2 – Utica College vs. Houghton College – Houghton 3-1 (21-25, 25-6, 25-6, 25-12)
Court #1 - Elmira College vs. Hartwick College – Elmira 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-18)
Court #2 – Houghton College vs. SUNY New Paltz – SUNY New Paltz 3-0 (25-13, 25-16, 25-15)
Court #1 - Elmira College vs. SUNY New Paltz – Elmira 3-1 (25-22, 25-11, 19-25, 25-17)
Court #2 – Hartwick College vs. Utica College – Hartwick 3-0 (20-25, 25-14, 25-14, 25-16)
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Court #2 – Hartwick College vs. Houghton College – Hartwick 3-1 (25-21, 25-18, 22-25, 25-21)
Court #1 - Elmira College vs. Utica College – Elmira 3-0 (25-6, 25-13, 25-8)
Court #2 – Hartwick College vs. SUNY New Paltz – SUNY New Paltz 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-20)
Court #1 - Elmira College vs. Houghton College Elmira 3-0 (25-20, 25-20, 25-16)
Court #2 – SUNY New Paltz vs. Utica College – SUNY New Paltz 3-0 (25-16, 25-14, 25-9)
