Score Match #1: Elmira 1, MCLA 3 [25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 19-25]
Score Match #2: Elmira 0, USCGA 3 [22-25, 25-27, 19-25]
Records: Elmira College (8-6), MCLA (14-3), USCGA (9-5)
Location: Lambros Arena | Oneonta, NY
 
Oneonta, NY -- The Elmira College women's volleyball team was back in action at Lambros Arena for the second consecutive weekend this afternoon, when the Soaring Eagles kicked off the first day of the Hartwick Tournament. Elmira got off a difficult start to the two-day event, falling in four sets to the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, before dropping a match to the United States Coast Guard Academy in straight sets.
 
The Soaring Eagles got off to a very promising start against a red-hot MCLA squad that entered the tournament on a 12-match winning streak. The Purple and Gold hit at a scintillating .278 clip to begin the match, racking up 15 kills in taking the opening set 25-22. Unfortunately, Elmira's swings went cold following the first set, as Elmira hit .074, .061 and .000, respectively, in dropping the next three sets to drop the day's first match.
 
Ashley Heiman '16 led the Soaring Eagles against MCLA with 15 kills, while also adding a solo block. Natalie Schieder '19 narrowly missed notching a double-double, finishing with 13 kills and nine digs, while also adding three service aces. Taylor Kaznowski '19 played her finest match of the season, finishing with a season-high 33 assists and chipping in 11 digs.
 
The hitting struggles for Elmira carried into the second match of the day, as the Purple and Gold swung at a .124 clip, losing each set by a narrow margin. The Soaring Eagles had a strong chance to equalize the match at one-set apiece; however, the Bears outlasted EC 27-25.
 
Paola Ortiz '16 led the squad with 12 kills, while Heiman added nine kills.
 
Individual Leaders (vs. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts)

• Heiman led the team in kills for the second consecutive match, finishing with 15.
• Kaznowski played the finest game of her impressive debut season to-date, collecting a career-high 33 assists, while also pacing the team with 11 digs.
• Schieder finished with a team-high three service aces.
• Paola Ortiz '16 led the defense at the net-front, tallying a one solo and one block assist.

 
Individual Leaders (vs. United States Coast Guard Academy)

• Ortiz led the team with a season-high 12 kills.
• Amanda Blinkinsop '16 led the Soaring Eagles with 16 digs.
• Blinkinsop, Ortiz and Kelsey Ross '16 tied for the team-lead with two service aces apiece.
• Ortiz and Kierstin Derr '16 notched a block assist apiece.

 
News and Notes

• Kaznowski extended her streak of recording 20-plus assists to four matches with the effort against MCLA. The double-double effort was her fifth of the season.
• Heiman's string of four consecutive matches with a hitting percentage of .200 or better came to an end against the Trailblazers; however, her 15 kills were her second highest output of the season.
• Ortiz's 12 kills were a season-high.
• Elmira has now dropped three of four matches held at Hartwick this season.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles are back in action tomorrow with two more contests to close out the Hartwick Tournament. First, Elmira will battle Union College at 12:00 p.m., before facing SUNY-Delhi at 4:00 p.m.