ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Following a thrilling five-set win last time out, the Elmira College women's volleyball team will look to keep things rolling during this weekend's Empire 8 Conference Crossover, hosted by Utica College. Elmira opens the crossover on Saturday, October 7, with a 1:30 p.m. tilt versus St. John Fisher College, before concluding the day with a 4:00 p.m. match against the host Pioneers of Utica.
LAST TIME OUT
The visiting Express from Wells College captured the second and third sets to take a 2-1 lead over the Soaring Eagles, but EC responded to capture the fourth set, 25-19, before roaring from behind to win the fifth set Thursday night at Speidel Gymnasium. Wells raced out to a 12-5 lead in the decisive fifth set and looked to be well on its way to a win, however, Elmira answered with five unanswered points and won eight of the next nine to level the set a 13-all.
Natalie Schieder '19 floored her 16th kill of the night to draw the score even at 15-15 and tossed up an ace to give EC its first lead of the set at 16-15.
Tiara John '19 then recorded the match point with a kill to complete the comeback. Schieder led all Soaring Eagles with 16 kills and 28 digs, while setter
Taylor Kaznowski '19 registered a double-double of her own with 44 assists and 13 digs.
CLUTCH KARINA
Following Thursday's victory, head coach
Rhonda Faunce noted that junior middle
Karina Hastings '19 played the finest match of her collegiate career to help EC beat the Express. The Windsor, New York, native floored a career-best nine kills and was the most efficient hitter on the team with a career-high-tying .571 attack percentage (9k-1e-14ta). Hastings also had a pair of blocks on the night, bringing her total over the past five matches to 13 rejections. Heading into the weekend, she sits second on the team with 25 total blocks, more than double the amount she recorded in her freshman and sophomore seasons combined.
SCOUTING ST. JOHN FISHER
The Cardinals are tied for third in the Empire 8 Conference with a 3-1 record against league opponents and a 15-5 overall mark. St. John Fisher's lone E8 loss came in four sets at the hands of crosstown rival Nazareth College last time out on October 4. Of Fisher's 15 wins thus far in 2017, 13 have come in straight sets. Outside hitter Anna Marcy has proven to be one of the best all-around players in the conference in her senior season. An E8 All-Conference First Teamer in 2016, Marcy leads the conference in kills per set (3.95), is third in aces per set (0.63) and ranks 10th in blocks per set (0.52). Among team leaders, Marcy is third in digs per set (2.55) and has registered six double-doubles.
SCOUTING UTICA
Unlike Fisher, Utica has not found as much success in 2017. The Pioneers boast a 5-14 overall record and are 0-3 inside the Empire 8. However, Utica has won two consecutive matches on its home court, including a 3-0 sweep of Cazenovia last time out on October 2, and is 3-2 inside the Clark Athletic Center this season. The Pioneers rank in the bottom half of nearly every statistical category in the Empire 8, with one exception. Thanks in part to the efforts of 6-foot-2-inch middle blocker Nicole Herringshaw, Utica is third in the conference with 1.51 blocks per set. Individually, Herringshaw is second in the E8 with an average of 1.00 blocks per set, a figure that ranks 38th in all of Division III.
SERIES HISTORY
The Soaring Eagles have a lengthy history against their feathered foes from St. John Fisher, with this weekend's contest marking Elmira's 60th meeting against the Cardinals. Despite a 42-17 all-time record against Fisher, EC has won seven of the last 11 matches, which includes a six-match win streak from 2009-12. On the other hand, the Soaring Eagles have controlled the series against the Pioneers. Elmira has won 22 of its 23 previous tilts against Utica and will look to win its fourth straight over the Pioneers this weekend.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following this weekend's Empire 8 Crossover, the Soaring Eagles will return to non-conference action on Tuesday, October 10, when EC travels to Williamsport, Pennsylvania to take Pennsylvania College of Technology. The road match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m.
