Score: SUNY Oneonta 3, Elmira 0 [25-23, 25-23, 26-24]
Records: Oneonta (14-15), Elmira (5-14)
Location: Oneonta, N.Y. -- Alumni Field House

ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's volleyball team was handed a grueling straight-sets defeat by Dig Pink Invitational host, SUNY Oneonta, to open the weekend-long tournament on Friday.

Friday's match was about as close as a straight-sets defeat could come; all three sets came down to the wire and each frame was decided by a mere two points. The Red Dragons won the first two sets by identical 25-23 scores, while the Soaring Eagles pushed the final set to 26-24.

Despite the loss, the EC offense broke out of a month-long slump and produced its most efficient outing since October 1st. The Soaring Eagles registered a team attack percentage of .160 with 39 kills and only 19 errors, marking EC's highest attack rate since the Purple and Gold finished with a .194 percentage against St. Lawrence at the beginning of the month.

Second-year standout Natalie Schieder '19 built on her conference lead in kills per set by posting a match-high 15 kills against the Red Dragons. It marks her 15th double-digit kill performance out of Elmira's 19 matches played this season. She also paced all players with a pair of service aces to go along with seven digs.

Rookie outside hitter McKenzie Slaven '20 followed with one of the best performances of her debut season. Although her eight kills are less than half of her single-match high, her .208 attack percentage is her third-highest of the year.

Taylor Kaznowski '19 finished with another double-double, as the second-year setter posted 31 assists and a match-best 12 digs. Classmates Kasey Campbell '19 and Rachel Katzenberger '19 each had 10 digs as well.

Inside the Box Score

• All three sets were decided by a minimum two points.
• Elmira finished with a .160 attack percentage, 15 percentage points better than SUNY Oneonta.
• EC also held a 3-to-2 advantage in service aces.
• The Red Dragons dominated the block category with an 18-to-2 lead.
• Schieder led all players with 15 kills and two aces.
• Kaznowski's 31 assists and 12 digs were also match highs.
• Slaven was second on the team with eight kills.
• Erika Corbin led the Oneonta offense with 13 kills.
• Setter Jessica Pelaccio produced a double-double for the Red Dragons with 26 assists and 10 digs.

News and Notes

• Elmira's .160 attack percentage was its best since October 1st and EC's fifth-highest of the year.
• Schieder has posted double-digit kills in 15 of EC's 19 matches in 2016.
• Slaven's .208 attack percentage was the third-highest of her rookie season.
• Kaznowski has double-doubles in three consecutive matches and 11 overall this season.
• Campbell has finished with double-digit digs in three straight matches and eight of EC's last nine contests.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will conclude the 2016 regular season with a pair of matches on Saturday, October 29th. EC will begin the day with a 10:00 a.m. bout against Bard College and will end the Dig Pink Invitational at 3:00 p.m. against SUNY Plattsburgh.