Elmira, NY – The Elmira College Women's Volleyball team was on fire in the first day of the Empire 8 Crossover Weekend as they swept both Alfred University and Nazareth College 3-0 Saturday in Elmira. The Soaring Eagles improve to 10-1 overall and 2-0 in Empire 8 play.

In its first match of the day EC swept the Saxons ( ) 25-11, 25-10, 25-9. Sasha Zavadska '13 (Bratislava, SVK -- The British School), Taryn Rumsey '13 (Mansfield, PA -- Mansfield), and Brittany Raykoske '12 (Johnstown, NY -- Gloversville) combined for 29 kills, eight service aces and 16 digs. Melanie Pershyn '13 (Lakeview, NY -- Frontier) and Abbie Martin '14 (Broadalbin, NY -- Broadalbin-Perth) finished with seven assists and three kills, respectively, off the bench. Molly Short '13 (Sterling, CO -- Sterling) once again proved to set the stage for EC, registering 23 assists.

In the second match of the day the Purple and Gold had one of their most impressive performances of the season. They took down a tough Nazareth squad 25-20, 25-13, 25-12. Zavadska (14), Raykoske (11), and Rumsey (10) all finished with double digit kills. Raykoske finished the day with seven service aces (four against Nazareth). Catherine Miller '14 (Pittsburg, PA -- Penn Hills) notched nine kills to spark the defensive effort for Elmira, feeding a pass-hungry Short who dished out 35 assists. As a team Elmira finished the day with 80 kills and only 15 attack errors.

EC looks to take command of the competitive Empire 8 Conference tomorrow when it squares off with Ithaca at 11:30 a.m. and St. John Fisher at 4:30 p.m.