ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's volleyball team hits the road on Saturday, October 21, for an Empire 8 Conference Crossover at The Sage Colleges in Albany, New York. EC begins the event with an 11:00 a.m. match against the host Gators, before taking on Houghton College at 1:30 p.m. inside Kahl Gymnasium.
JOINING THE 1,000 KILL CLUB
In the Purple and Gold's 3-0 defeat of Misericordia University on Thursday evening at Speidel Gymnasium, junior outside hitter
Natalie Schieder '19 became just the 11th Soaring Eagle to record 1,000 career kills. The Alden, New York, native has been EC's most dangerous offensive threat ever since she stepped on the Elmira campus, as she has paced the team in kills for the past three seasons. Schieder became the first EC player since Taryn Rumsey '14 to reach 1,000 kills, a feat that Rumsey also accomplished as a junior in 2012. With 1,002 career kills, Schieder sits just 39 shy of Mary Powell '94 for the 10th spot on EC's all-time kills leaderboard. In 2017, Schieder has recorded new career highs in single-season kills (364) and digs (314) with seven matches remaining on the schedule.
SCOUTING THE GATORS
In its first season as an Empire 8 Conference affiliate, Sage has struggled to find its footing in the new league and enters Saturday's bout with a 1-5 mark in E8 play. The Gators have dropped nine of their last 11 contests, a stretch that included all six of their league tilts. Sage's lone conference victory this year was a 3-1 triumph over Utica College on Thursday, October 12. With these struggles in league play, the Gators' overall record stands at 7-19. Sage's main strength this season has been creating blocks, as it ranks second in the E8 in blocks per set (1.57). Sophomore Miranda Nethaway paces the team in blocks with 78, the third-most in the conference. With 61 blocks in 2017, senior Alyssa Nellis has also shown that she is not to be taken lightly by opposing hitters. Another senior that has made a tremendous impact on defense this year has been Missy Schneiderman, who has tallied the fourth-most digs (310) in the Empire 8.
SCOUTING THE HIGHLANDERS
Through 26 matches this season, Houghton's record stands at 11-15 overall and 2-4 in conference action. Most recently, the Highlanders suffered a 3-1 setback to Nazareth College on Wednesday, October 18, in Houghton, New York. Leading the way for the Houghton offense has been senior Naomi Prentice, who is tied for the conference lead in hitting percentage (.322). The middle blocker from Linwood, New York, also leads the team in kills (244) and blocks (74). Senior setter Anna Coryell has been at the center of the Highlanders' offensive success, with 675 assists. Defensively, the duo of Morgan Potempa (318) and Erica Barney (313) have combined for 631 digs.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Soaring Eagles will compete next on Tuesday, October 24, when they head to La Plume, Pennsylvania, to challenge Keystone College. The 7:00 p.m. non-conference bout will take place at the Giants' Gambal Athletic Center.
