Score: Elmira College 3, Cazenovia College 0 [25-17, 26-24, 25-16]
Records: Elmira (13-8), Cazenovia (4-14)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, NY
 
Elmira, NY -- On a night that Elmira College recognized its seven graduating members of the Class of 2016, it would be those seven student-athletes that would pace the women's volleyball team to a 3-0 win over Cazenovia College. Ashley Heiman '16 recorded a match-high 10 kills while classmate Sami Hanes '16 logged a match-high 24 assists. Defensively, Elmira was led by Amanda Blinkinsop '16 and her team-high 15 digs.
 
Making tonight's match even more special was a surprise engagement. Senior Ashley Heiman was joined on-court between the second and third set by her boyfriend, now fiancé, David Lucas, who proposed to the Dansville, NY native in front of a 225 person crowd after making the trip to the Southern Tier from Laughlin Air Force Base in Del Rio, TX. Just like in the movies, Heiman said yes with her mother and father, Anne and Michael Heiman, in the crowd. 
 
In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Rhonda Faunce on her team's performance…
"We are happy to just get through it all. The stress level was high with the number of seniors, the engagement, and whether we were going to win. So, we are happy with tonight's win."
 
Coach Faunce on the Class of 2016…
"I am very happy for the seniors and that everyone play a lot. I am especially happy that all of their parents were able to make it tonight and see them play."
 
Turning Point
After winning the first set, Elmira looked to a take a 2-sets-to-0 lead but the Wildcats did not make it easy. Cazenovia controlled most the set and led by as many as five points at 20-15. However, the Soaring Eagles would win several long rallies, as well as several points that Cazenovia controlled, to win 11 of the final 15 points to take the set, 26-24.
 
Individual Leaders

• Heiman led the Soaring Eagles with a match-high 10 kills.
• Setting-up the EC attack was Hanes and her match-high 24 assists.
• Blinkinsop led the charge defensively with a team-high 15 digs.
• Senior Kierstin Derr '16 produced a match-high three aces.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Elmira produced 43 kills to Cazenovia's 23.
• The Soaring Eagles hit .203 on the match while holding the Wildcats to a .061 success rate.
• Elmira enjoyed a very productive sideout percentage at 68 percent.
• EC registered 10 service aces by seven different players.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira improves to 13-8 on the season, nearly doubling last year's win total.
• The Soaring Eagles have won three straight and are 5-1 in its last six matches.
• Elmira's 10 service aces marks the 10th time this season EC has gone for 10 or more.
• EC's seniors played every point of the first two sets. 
• Heiman registered her ninth double-digit kill effort of the season.
• Hanes produced 24 assists, her second 20-plus assist performance this year.
• Blinkinsop's 15 digs marks the 13th time this season she has produced 10 or more.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return to action tomorrow, when the Elmira women welcome seven teams from around the region for a two-day home tournament. Elmira opens tournament play on Friday, October 16th, against SUNY Canton at 2:00 p.m.