Score: Stevens Institute of Technology 3, Elmira College 0 [25-14, 25-14, 25-12]
Score: Houghton College 3, Elmira College 2 [21-25, 25-18, 21-25, 25-19, 15-6]
Records: Stevens (21-1, 6-0 E8), Houghton (9-9, 3-3 E8), Elmira (4-7, 1-4 E8)
Location: Houghton, N.Y. -- Nielsen Center

HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's volleyball team was defeated in a pair of crucial Empire 8 Conference matches against Stevens Institute of Technology and Houghton College on Saturday at Houghton's Nielsen Physical Education Center.

With the losses, EC fell to 1-4 inside E8 play with three league matches remaining. While not yet mathematically eliminated from postseason tournament contention, the Soaring Eagles will need to win out against their remaining E8 opponents and while receiving some additional help from around the conference.

In Saturday's opener, the Purple and Gold where overwhelmed by the conference-leading Ducks. Stevens picked up a straight-sets victory by limiting the Soaring Eagles to a mere minus-.014 attack percentage, tied for EC's worst offensive output of the season.

The nightcap against the Highlanders was the more important of Saturday's matches. Last season, the victory over Houghton allowed Elmira to punch its ticket to the Empire 8 Tournament; however, this year's heartbreaking five-set loss could prove to be costly down the stretch.

The Soaring Eagles won the first and third sets by identical 25-21 scores, but the Highlanders came out with the hot hand in set No. 4 by winning the first four points. Trailing 16-13 late in the set, Houghton roared from behind by capturing 12 of the next 15 games to secure the set victory. The host Highlanders opened the decisive set with the first five points en route to a fifth-set and match victory.

Inside the Box (Stevens)

• Elmira finished with more attacking errors (23) than kills (22), resulting in a minus-.014 attack percentage.
• Stevens committed only six offensive errors and hit .393 in the match.
• Natalie Schieder '19 led EC with seven kills.
• Alicia Day '17 recorded four kills on eight attempts without an error.
• Taylor Kaznowski '19 picked up 15 of Elmira's 21 assists.
• The Ducks served 10 aces and blocked four attack attempts.
• Mary Tobin led Stevens with eight kills.

Inside the Box (Houghton)

• The Soaring Eagles finished with an advantage in nearly every category, including kills (55-to-47), aces (9-to-4), assists (54-to-45), and digs (83-to-78).
• Houghton finished with more blocks (8-to-1) and had a better attack percentage (.230-to-.135).
• Schieder and McKenzie Slaven '20 powered the Elmira offense with 20 and 13 kills, respectively.
• Both recorded double-doubles, as Schieder recorded a team-high 16 digs and Slaven had 15.
• Five different Soaring Eagles had double-digit digs, including another 15 from Kaznowski.
• In addition to her digs, Kaznowski added 40 assists for a double-double of her own.
• Four Soaring Eagles had multiple aces.
• Houghton's Naomi Prentice finished with 15 kills on 36 attempts without an error, equaling an impressive .407 attack percentage.
• Rebekah White had a match-high 20 digs for the Highlanders.

News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles will need to win their remaining three Empire 8 Conference matches to have a shot at a berth in the E8 Tournament.
• Elmira's five-setter was its third such match of the season. EC is now 1-2 on the year in matches that go the distance.
• Schieder's double-double against Houghton was her sixth of the year.
• Kaznowski's double-double against the Highlanders was her fifth.
• Kaznowski leapfrogged Amanda Weaver '10 to move into ninth-place all-time with 1,157 assists. She needs 97 more to tie Kim Mayer '98 for eighth place.
• With 13 kills and 15 digs against Houghton, Slaven registered the first double-double of her rookie season.
• Her 15 digs also marked a new season high for the Horseheads, New York, native.

Up Next
The first of the remaining must-win conference matches will be played on Wednesday, October 12th, when the Soaring Eagles host Alfred University at Speidel Gymnasium at 6:00 p.m.