Score: Nazareth College 3, Elmira College 0
Score: Elmira College 3, Hartwick College 0
Records: Elmira (5-12, 2-6 E8), Nazareth (19-8, 5-2 E8), Hartwick (6-16, 1-6 E8)
Location: Rochester, N.Y. -- Kidera Gymnasium

ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- A resilient Elmira College women's volleyball team came from behind in each of the of the first two sets as part of a straight-sets victory over Hartwick College in Saturday's Empire 8 Conference Crossover split, hosted by Nazareth College in Rochester, New York.

In the opening match of the E8 Crossover, the host Golden Flyers cruised to a straight-sets victory over the Soaring Eagles. The Elmira offense produced only 21 kills, the team's second-lowest total this season, while hitting at a rate of .024. In the third set, however, the Purple and Gold went toe-to-toe with Naz, and recovered from a five-point deficit to knot the set at 21-all. Three of the points during the run came via kills from Natalie Schieder '19. Despite the late push, the Golden Flyers secured the final four points with win the set and the match.

The Purple and Gold flipped the script to defeat the Hawks, 3-0, but it didn't come easily, as the Soaring Eagles had to overcome deficits in each of the first two sets. Hartwick led by as much as six, 13-7, in the first set, before a pair of Alicia Day '17 blocks helped swing the momentum in EC's favor. The latter solo block from Day trimmed the advantage to 14-11. A Kelsey Ray '17 kill and Taylor Kaznowski '19 block then gave Elmira its first lead of the set at 16-15. The Soaring Eagles captured nine of the next 13 points to pick up an important 25-19 victory and to jump ahead, one-set-to-none.

In the second set, Hartwick held onto a 14-11 lead, before Schieder helped architect the comeback. She recorded back-to-back spikes to even the set at 16-all. The second-year standout then added a solo block and two more kills to keep the score tied at 20-20. With Schieder serving, the Soaring Eagles pulled ahead 23-20, setting up Ray to win the decisive point with her third kill of the set.

Although the Soaring Eagles raced ahead 17-10 in the third set, it came down to the wire after the Hawks clawed their way back. Hartwick rebounded and managed to knot the score at 19-19, and the two teams traded points until they were tied, 25-25. Schieder tossed up her second ace for the go-ahead point, and Courtney VanBuren '18 scored the match-point with her fifth kill of the match.

In Their Own Words…
Head Coach Rhonda Faunce on her team's victory over Hartwick...
"We had a good team effort. It was good to get another win under our belt and for the team to get rewarded for all of the hard work they've been putting into practice. We look forward to finishing off the season on a strong note."

Coach Faunce on her team's resiliency against Hartwick...
"It is very encouraging to get a win after a tough fight like we had against Hartwick. We have been on the edge all season, so I think it speaks to the work we have been doing for them to not give up and push through."

Inside the Box Score (Nazareth)

• Elmira recorded a .024 attack percentage, while Naz hit at a rate of .258.
• EC registered 10 of its 21 kills in the third set.
• Naz narrowly edged the Soaring Eagles in digs (37-to-36) and blocks (4-to-3).
• Schieder paced Elmira with 10 kills and three aces, both match highs.
• Kelsey Ray '17 picked up three total blocks.
• Rachel Katzenberger '19 led EC with eight digs.
• Naz's Cady Messmer finished one kill shy of a double-double with nine kills and 11 digs.

Inside the Box Score (Hartwick)

• Elmira's best offensive set of the match was the first set, where EC hit .214.
• The Soaring Eagles scored a match-high 14 kills in the second set, but also committed 11 attack errors.
• Hartwick accumulated a team attack percentage of .000, with 29 kills and 29 errors.
• EC finished with slim advantages in every other category, including a 5-to-4 lead in aces, a 6-to-4 lead in blocks, and a 77-75 advantage in digs.
• Schieder's 10 kills marked a match-high.
• She also recorded 18 digs for the double-double.
• Schieder and Day each posted a pair of solo blocks.
• Kaznowski picked up a double-double with 24 assists and 13 digs.
• Kasey Campbell '19 finished with a match-high 23 digs.

News and Notes

• The win over Hartwick was Elmira's fifth overall and second within Empire 8 play this season.
• Elmira improved to 37-2 in the all-time series against the Hawks.
• With 10 kills in each match, Schieder has now recorded double-digit kills in seven consecutive matches and 14-of-17 matches this season.
• The second-year outside hitter posted her 10th double-double of the year against Hartwick.
• Kaznowski's double-double was her ninth of the year.
• VanBuren finished with season and career highs in kills (5), digs (5), and aces (2) against the Hawks.
• Campbell's 23 digs mark a new single-match career high.

Up Next
The Elmira women return to Speidel Gymnasium for the 2016 regular-season home finale on Tuesday, October 25th, when the Soaring Eagles host the University of Rochester. The non-conference match will begin at 6:00 p.m.