ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Elmira College's Speidel Gymnasium will be the site of a busy weekend of collegiate women's volleyball, as the Soaring Eagles host Hunter College, Lycoming College, and SUNY Cortland for the EC Quad-Match on Friday, October 14th, and Saturday, October 15th. EC opens the two-day tournament with a 6:00 p.m. match on Friday against the Red Dragons of SUNY Cortland.

LAST TIME OUT: Elmira was one set away from earning its second Empire 8 Conference victory of the season last Wednesday, when the Soaring Eagles took a 2-sets-to-1 lead on league rival, Alfred University. However, the Saxons rallied in the final two sets to hand the Purple and Gold their fifth E8 loss of the season. Elmira's Natalie Schieder '19 and Taylor Kaznowski '19 continued their steady play with a pair of double-double efforts. Schieder produced 16 kills and 18 digs, while Kaznowksi logged 44 assists to go along with 10 digs. EC's starting libero, Kasey Campbell '19, also had a solid day with 15 digs and a career-tying six service aces.

SCOUTING HUNTER: Hunter College has proven to be the cream of the crop in the CUNYAC this season, as the Hawks sit atop the league standings with a perfect 7-0 conference record. However, Hunter has struggled outside of conference play, posting a 7-9 record against non-league competition. The Hawks enter the weekend on a four-match win streak, one that includes an impressive five-set road victory against NYU. Julia Connolly, the reigning CUNYAC Player of the Year, logged 17 of her team- and conference-leading 309 kills against the Violets. Connolly is connecting at .235-percent clip this season and is averaging 3.86 kills per set.
 
SCOUTING LYCOMING: The Warriors are owners of a 13-13 overall record with an even 3-3 mark inside MAC Commonwealth action. Lycoming is 4-6 in its last 10 matches and enters Friday having won its most recent contest, a 3-0 sweep of Arcadia, just the second win in the Warriors' last seven contests. Kristine Jahn and Cheyenne Altland have paced the Warrior attack, averaging 2.31 and 1.90 kills per set, respectively. Jahn owns a team-leading eight double-digit kill performances this season. Catherine Burger and Emily Morris have split setting duties, combining for 731 of Lycoming's 847 assists. Burger is averaging 6.70 helpers per set, while Morris is close behind at 5.03.

SCOUTING SUNY CORTLAND: SUNY Cortland opens play at the EC Quad-Match with a 12-11 overall record with a 2-4 showing in SUNYAC matches. Cortland is coming off a four-set win over SUNY Potsdam in its most recent contest, a victory that snapped a three-match losing streak. A quartet of Red Dragons own 100 or more kills this season, led by junior middle hitter Courtney Silberer's 218 spikes. Silberer has been just as impressive on defense, logging 38 total blocks, a mark that ranks third on the team. Amanda May has been Cortland's most intimidating presence at the net with a team-leading 64-block total.

Up Next: Next Saturday, October 22nd, the Soaring Eagles will travel to Rochester, New York, for a pair of Empire 8 Conference games. The Purple and Gold will take on Nazareth College and Hartwick College at Naz's Kidera Gymnasium, beginning with an 11:00 a.m. contest against the Golden Flyers.