Score: SUNY Canton 3 – Elmira College 2 [23-25, 21-25, 25-20, 25-20, 16-14]
Score: SUNY Geneseo 3 – Elmira College 1 [25-20, 22-25, 25-23, 25-17]
Records: Elmira (13-10), SUNY Geneseo (11-13), SUNY Canton (17-7)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, NY
 
Elmira, NY -- The Elmira College women's volleyball team had a rough opening day of the Elmira College Invitational, as it fell to a pair of SUNY programs in first day action. The two losses drop Elmira to a record of 13-10 on the season.
 
Elmira opened the day with a heartbreaking five-set loss to SUNY Canton in what was a rollercoaster ride of a match. The visiting Roos showed their resiliency time and time again in coming back from several deficits to deal the Soaring Eagles a crushing defeat.
 
The Soaring Eagles roared out to a commanding two-set lead on the strength of scintillating hitting from Ashley Heiman '16 and Natalie Schieder '19. The duo combined for 15 kills in the opening two sets, as Elmira took the frames 25-23 and 25-21.
 
With their backs against the wall, SUNY Canton parlayed a slow start by the Soaring Eagles in the middle set to swing the momentum in their favor. Riding the dangerous serve of Kiana Archer '16 and the powerful attacking of Morgan Bills '16, the Roos took the next two sets by identical 25-20 scores to force a decisive fifth set.
 
The Purple and Gold looked to be in excellent shape to pull out the match win, pulling out to an 8-6 lead at the halfway point, and tallying four of the next five points after switching sides to lead 12-7. Once again SUNY Canton wouldn't quit, battling back to knot the score at 14-14. Bills would give the visitors the lead with a thunderous kill down the middle, before Rachel Lowther '16 sent a ball down the line to close out the match for the Roos.
 
The Soaring Eagles hoped to rebound in their second match of the day, but SUNY Geneseo proved too much to handle. The visitors took down Elmira in four sets to deal the hosts a second loss on the day, while the Knights improved to 2-0 on the weekend.
 
The visitors got off to a sizzling start, hitting a sensational .409 in the opening set to take the first frame 25-20.
 
Elmira rallied nicely in the second set. Riding the hot hitting of Schieder, the Soaring Eagles posted a .294 hitting percentage, its highest of the match, to take the second set 25-22.
 
Unfortunately, the Purple and Gold could not carry over the momentum, as SUNY Geneseo would take the next two sets to close out the match. The Knights jumped out to a commanding 16-4 lead in the decisive fourth set. Elmira would mount a late charge, but it would be too little too late, as SUNY Geneseo took the final set 25-17.
 
Turning Point (SUNY Canton)
The Soaring Eagles snatched a 12-7 lead in the decisive fifth set after a kill by Kelsey Ross '16. The Roos would rally with five consecutive points and nine of the final 11 points overall to secure the match 16-14. Haley Riley '17 and Morgan Bills '16 tallied two kills apiece during the run.
 
Turning Point (SUNY Geneseo)
With the match tied at 1-1, Elmira strung together a six-point run to take an 18-15 lead midway through the third set. The Knights responded with a six point run of their own to wrest away control of the third set. The momentum continued into set four, as SUNY Geneseo jumped out to a 16-4 lead, which proved to be too much for the Soaring Eagles to overcome.
 
Individual Leaders
Ashley Heiman '16 led all Elmira players with 30 kills on the day, including a team-high 16 kills against SUNY Canton. Taylor Kaznowski '19 led Elmira with 88 assists. Kelsey Ross '16 led the Soaring Eagles on the day with 32 digs. Paola Ortiz '16 finished the day with a team-leading six service aces.
 
Inside the Box Score (SUNY Canton)

• Elmira had four players collect double-digit kills in: Ashley Heiman '16, Natalie Schieder '19, Paola Ortiz '16 and Kelsey Ross '16.
• Heiman led the Soaring Eagles with 16 kills in the contest on a .263 hitting percentage.
• Ortiz led Elmira with a .320 hitting percentage and five service aces.
• Taylor Kaznowski '19 finished with a career-high 47 assists. It is the third time this season she has posted over 40 helpers in a match.
• The Soaring Eagles had three players record double-doubles in: Natalie Schieder '19 (12 kills – 14 digs), Kelsey Ross '16 (11 kills – 16 digs), and Taylor Kaznowski '19 (47 assists – 11 digs).

 
Inside the Box Score (SUNY Geneseo)

• Elmira finished with a .246 hitting percentage in the match. It is the first time this season and just the third time over the last three years that the Soaring Eagles have lost when hitting .200 or better.
• Schieder led Elmira with 15 kills on a scintillating team-best .438 hitting percentage.
• Heiman added 14 kills for Elmira.
• Kaznowski finished with 41 assists. It is the fourth contest this season she has topped the 40 assist mark.

 
Up Next
Elmira will be back in action at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning when they continue their SUNY tour with a tussle against SUNY Cortland. The Soaring Eagles will close out the invitational at 2:00 p.m. against City College of New York.