Score: Alfred 3 - Elmira 2 [25-14, 19-25, 23-25, 25-16, 15-9]
Records: Alfred (9-12, 3-3 E8), Elmira (4-8, 1-5 E8)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Elmira College women's volleyball seemed to be on its way to the team's second Empire 8 Conference win this evening, but a late rally by Alfred University thwarted EC's efforts and secured a five-set victory for the Saxons.
 
Alfred claimed the opening set in convincing fashion, limiting EC to just 14 points en route to a 25-14 win. Elmira responded nicely in the second frame to take it, 25-19. EC pieced together a key run midway through the second set, rattling off five consecutive points to take a 17-11 lead. During the Elmira run, Natalie Schieder '19 and Alicia Day '17 produced a pair of kills, while the Saxons committed three errors.
 
The third set teetered back and forth, as each team went on extended runs. Elmira began the streaky play with a 7-0 run to take an 11-6 lead, with much of that success having to do with Kasey Campbell '19 and the four consecutive service aces she strung together. However, the lead did not last long, as the Saxons won 12 of the next 15 points for an 18-14 advantage.
 
Alfred eventually built its lead to 20-16, before Elmira locked in and won nine of the final 12 points to secure the third set at 25-23. Six of Elmira's nine points came on kills logged by five different players. Schieder was the only Soaring Eagle to register multiple kills, as the second-year talent produced two of her team-high 16 kills.
 
Elmira did a good job in the first three sets from an offensive perspective, logging consistent attacking percentages of .158, .147, and .156. The Soaring Eagles were even more impressive on the defensive side of the ball, as the Elmira women challenged attempt after attempt, an effort that limited the Saxons to .083 and .111 hitting in the second and third sets, respectively.
 
However, Alfred's offense found its rhythm in the fourth set with a 13k-2e-31ta state line (.355), which helped the Saxons win the set, 25-16. Both teams hit well in the fifth and final set, as EC went .333 from the floor compared to Alfred's .533 attack percentage. However, the key in the fifth set was Alfred's ability to effectively side-out, connecting at a 77-percent clip. On the other hand, EC struggled to pass as well, siding-out at 46-perecent, which paved the way for a 15-9 fifth-set and match-win for the Saxons.
 
Inside the Box Score

• Alfred produced a cumulative attack percentage of .259 on a 50k-14e-139ta stat line.
• Elmira went .142 from the floor on a 52k-30e-155 stat line.
• Total points won were nearly identical, with Alfred owning a 69-67 lead.
• The kill total was in EC's favor, 52-50.
• Elmira assisted on 51 of its 52 kills, while Alfred logged 46 helpers.
• Alfred served up 12 aces, while Elmira had eight.
• Blocks and digs were even between the two teams at seven and 63 apiece, respectively.
• Schieder produced a double-double with team highs of 16 kills and 18 digs.
• Day registered 10 kills and five blocks, including one solo.
• Kelsey Ray '17 was not far behind Day with nine kills and a pair of blocks.
• Campbell produced six service aces and 15 digs.
• Hastings had a good day at the net with four block assists.
• Taylor Kaznowski '19 finished with a double-double on a match-high 44 assists and 10 digs.  

 
News and Notes

• Elmira's 25-match win streak against Alfred came to an end.
• EC's 7.0 blocks are a season high.
• Elmira's 12 block assists doubled the team's previous season high.
• Kaznowski logged the 1,201 assist of her collegiate career, the ninth player EC history to surpass the 1,200 plateau.
• Schieder logged her seventh double-double of the year.
• Kaznowski produced her sixth double-double of the 2016 campaign.
• Kaznowski has registered 40 or more assists in five matches this season.
• Campbell tied her career-high ace total with six.

 
Up Next
Elmira is back in action this Friday, October 14th, when the Soaring Eagles open play at the EC Quad-Match, hosted by the Purple and Gold at Speidel Gymnasium. EC takes on neighboring SUNY Cortland in a 6:00 p.m. non-league match, before returning the following Saturday for a pair of contests against Hunter College and Lycoming College at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., respectively.