Records: Elmira (1-1), Alfred State (6-0), Cazenovia (0-5)
Score: Alfred State 3 – Elmira 0 [25-14, 25-16, 26-24]
Score: Elmira 3 – Cazenovia 1 [25-13, 25-19, 25-20]
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, N.Y.
 
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's volleyball team began its 2016 campaign today with a pair of non-conference matches against visiting Alfred State and Cazenovia College. Elmira split on the day, falling to the Lady Pioneers of Alfred, 3-0, before claiming a 3-0 victory over the Wildcats of Cazenovia in the nightcap.
 
In the opening match of the day, Elmira hoped to slow down Alfred State's momentum, as the Lady Pioneers entered today's contest with an unblemished 4-0 record on the year. Alfred was able to maintain the form they showed in its previous matches thanks to a highly-efficient attack. The Lady Pioneers produced .407 and .406 attack percentages in the first two sets, which helped secure a 2-0 lead (25-14, 25-16).
 
Although Alfred's hitting cooled down in the third set (.108 attack percentage), the Lady Pioneers still managed to eke out a close one, 26-24. The win in the third did not come easy though, as Elmira rallied from a 23-19 deficit to 24-23, giving the Soaring Eagles a set point, However, an Elmira service error and a pair of kills by Janae Hamilton and Bryanna Godfrey sealed Alfred's 3-0 win.
 
The second match of today's doubleheader could not have more different for Elmira, as the Soaring Eagles cruised to a 3-0 win over Cazenovia. The Wildcats opened the match by winning the first two points, but Elmira answered nicely over the next several points and would eventually take a 21-9 lead late in the set. EC rode the efforts of its precision hitting (.300 attack percentage) to win the opening set, 25-13.
 
Cazenovia responded well in the second set and jumped out to a 7-2 lead, an advantage the Wildcats maintained midway through the set at 16-11.
 
Trailing by five points, Elmira needed to rally in a big way and did so thanks to the serving effort of second-year talent Kasey Campbell '19. Following a Kelsey Ray '17 kill to side out, Campbell served up four aces over the next five points to help Elmira take its first lead of the set at 17-16.
 
Cazenovia eventually ended Campbell's run to even the set at 17-all, but the Soaring Eagles went on another extensive run, winning the next six points to take a 23-17 lead and force a Wildcat timeout. During EC's six-point run, Ray produced a pair of service aces as well.
 
Elmira would eventually win the set at 25-19 to take a 2-sets-to-0 lead on Cazenovia.
 
The third set was filled with good back-and-forth action, as the two teams matched each other's efforts point-for-point until Cazenovia went on a 6-0 run midway through the set to take a 16-12 lead. Elmira's dip in form forced a quick timeout, one that would pay dividends just minutes later, as the break from action sparked an EC run.
 
Following the break, Elmira went on to win 11 of the next 13 points to take a commanding 23-18 lead. During that stretch, Elmira's Natalie Schieder '19 and Ray combined for six kills. EC went on to win the set, 25-20, sealing the Purple and Gold's first win of the 2016 season.
 
In Her Own Words…
Coach Rhonda Faunce shared her thoughts on the performance of her freshman class…
"In particular, the two that started – the libero, Cassie Potter, and the outside, McKenzie Slaven, - I think for freshmen did really well. They've earned those spots and I think they are going to continue to grow."
 
Coach Faunce touched on the play of second-year talents Schieder and Kaznowski
"It's funny to see them transition from freshmen to now. We only have two older kids on the team, so they have to take a leadership role. Each year that we have them, they are going to get better, and the team will get better around them. Their personalities are starting to come out now as sophomores, which has been fun to see."
 
Coach Faunce continued to reflect on Schieder's double-double effort against Cazenovia…
"I expect that from her in every match that we play, and she knows that. As a sophomore we'll see how well she can handle the pressure, but she has to because she's definitely our go-to this year."
 
Elmira Individual Leaders
Attack Percentage: Alicia Day (.280)
Kills: Natalie Schieder (29)
Assists: Taylor Kaznowski (55)
Aces: Kasey Campbell (6)
Digs: Natalie Schieder (21)
Blocks: Kelsey Ray (3)
 
Inside the Box Score [Alfred State]

• Elmira hit .097 from the floor, while Alfred was .292.
• Alfred held the advantage in points, 57-38.
• The Lady Pioneers produced 40 kills, while EC recorded 25.
• Alfred assisted on 38 of its kills, while EC logged 24.
• Alfred also owned the lead in service aces, 12-9.
• The block total was also in favor of Alfred State, 5-4.
• Schieder was the lone Soaring Eagle with double-digit kills (10).
• Kaznowski paced Elmira with four service aces and 22 assists.
• Rookie McKenzie Slaven '20 led EC with a team-high eight digs.

 
Inside the Box Score [Cazenovia]

• Elmira produced a .227 attack percentage, while Cazenovia went .090 from the floor.
• Elmira nearly doubled Cazenovia's point total, 51-25.
• EC produced 37 kills, while Cazenovia logged 21.
• Elmira assisted on 34 of its 37 kills, while each Wildcat kill was accompanied by an assist.
• Service aces were also heavily in favor of Elmira, 13-4.
• Schieder led all players in kills and digs with 19 and 15, respectively.
• Schieder logged an impressive .400 attack percentage (19k-5e-35ta).
• Kasey Campbell '19 served up a match-high six aces.
• Kaznowski logged a match-high 33 assists.

 
News and Notes

• Elmira earned its first win of the season against Cazenovia.
• EC's 13 aces against Cazenovia are the most the team has made since October 30th of last year.
• Campbell's six service aces against Cazenovia are a career high.
• Campbell's six aces are the most an EC player has registered since October 6, 2015.
• Schieder's 19 kills is the second-highest single-match total of her collegiate career.
• Schieder produced the first double-double of 2016 (19 kills, 15 digs).
• Schieder has 19 double-digit kill performances and 13 double-double efforts in her career.
• Kaznowski has produced 30-plus assists 14 times in her EC career.

 
Up Next
Elmira is back in action on Thursday, September 15th, when the Soaring Eagles welcome Penn College to Speidel Gymnasium for a non-league match. The opening serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.