Score: Morrisville State 3, Elmira College 0 [25-21, 25-22, 25-20]
Records: Morrisville (6-1), Elmira (3-2)
Location: Speidel Gymnasium – Elmira, N.Y.
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Despite a double-double effort from junior outside hitter
Natalie Schieder '19, who finished with team highs of 11 kills and 12 digs, the Elmira College women's volleyball team fell on its home court at Speidel Gymnasium to visiting Morrisville State by a 3-0 final score. It marked the first loss EC has taken on its home hardwood this season, after winning its first three home matches of the year.
Schieder was the only Soaring Eagle to produce 10-plus kills on the evening, as
Tiara John '19 was the next closest EC player with eight kills.
Karina Hastings '19 and
Savannah Terry '21 ended tonight's bout with four apiece. Starting setter
Taylor Kaznowski '19 also logged a double-double with 27 assists to go along with 10 digs.
The reigning Empire 8 Conference Rookie of the Week,
Lauren Smith '21, ended tonight's contest with three kills and a season-high 10 digs. Also adding to the stat line was starting libero
Kasey Campbell '19, who amassed eight digs, one kill and a team-high three service aces.
Elmira held a pair of three-point leads early in the opening set and led by as many as two points midway through the contest at 17-15. However, the Mustangs went on to win seven of the next eight points to take a four-point lead, 22-18. Morrisville eventually claimed the opening set by a four-point margin, 25-21, which ended on a kill from Megyan Merrill, who finished with a match-high 12 kills.
The second set saw the two sides trade leads through the early stages until the Mustangs went on a mini 3-0 run to take a 13-10 lead.
Sabrina Didas '20 entered the game as a substitute after Morrisville collected its 13th point, and the second-year right-side hitter floored her first and only attempt of the match to end the Mustangs' run. The kill from Didas set up a 5-1 Elmira run, one that saw Campbell produce her lone kill of the match and one of her team-high three service aces.
EC's run put the Soaring Eagles on top, 15-14, and both teams stayed within one point of each other until Morrisville went on another 3-0 run late in the set to take a 22-19 lead. The Elmira women clawed their way back into the set, coming as close as 23-22, but the Mustangs held on down the stretch and eked it out, 25-22, to take a 2-sets-to-0 lead.
Power serving by the Mustangs and below-par passing by the Soaring Eagles proved to be the difference in the third set. Morrisville served up five aces in the final set, including two from Amelia Baratier, which helped the visitors seal the final set at 25-20 and clinch the match.
News and Notes
- Elmira's home record drops to 3-1 this season.
- The all-time series between the two sides stands at 3-2 in favor of Elmira.
- Schieder logged her third double-double of the 2017 campaign.
- Schieder's 12 digs ties her season-high mark, which she has set three times this year.
- Schieder has finished with 10-or-more kills in four of EC's five matches.
- Kaznowski produced her first double-double of the year with 27 assists and 10 digs.
- Smith's 10 digs are the most the rookie has made during her debut season.
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will look to bounce back from today's setback, as they travel to Oswego, New York, this weekend to compete in the Oswego State Invitational. Elmira opens the invite on Friday, September 15, with a pair of non-league matches against SUNY Canton and Bard College at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., respectively.
