Box Score BRADFORD, Pa. -- Elmira College women's volleyball suffered a three-set [25-16, 25-21, 25-20] setback in the team's season-opening match against the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford at the KOA Arena on Wednesday evening in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

The Soaring Eagles were led by junior Natalie Schieder '19, who tallied a team-high 13 kills in the losing effort. The product of Alden, New York, was responsible for 13 of the team's 22 total kills. Schieder's 13 kills are the most that she has recorded since the second-to-last game of the 2016 season against when she posted 19 kills against non-conference foe Bard College in a 3-2 EC victory. The 5-foot-8-inch outside hitter was also very efficient on the night, as she paced the team with a 0.281 attack percentage (12k-3e-32ta).

Schieder also helped contribute on the defensive end of the court, as she posted a team-best 12 digs which also gave her her first double-double of the young season. She was closely followed by freshman Lauren Smith '21 and junior Rachel Katzenberger '19, who produced nine and eight digs, respectively.  

Fellow juniors Tiara John '19 and Karina Hastings '19 helped carry the load on offense, as the former chipped in five kills in her first match donning the Purple and Gold and the latter tallied a pair of kills to begin her junior campaign. Junior setter Taylor Kaznowski '19 also made her presence known, as she recorded a team-best three service aces.

News and Notes

• Today's match marks EC's second consecutive season-opening loss.
• Elmira has dropped its last three matches against the Panthers, with its last victory in the series coming in a 3-1 triumph at Speidel Gymnasium on September 7, 2013.
• Schieder's 13 kills are the most by a Soaring Eagle in a season opener since Taryn Rumsey '14 recorded 21 kills in EC's 3-2 triumph over Pitt-Bradford to start the 2013 campaign.
• Rumsey was also the last Elmira player to record a double-double in the season opener, as she added 10 digs to her aforementioned 21-kill performance in the 2013 opener. 
• Freshmen Smith and Savannah Terry '21 saw their first collegiate action in tonight's contest.
• John finished her first match donning the Purple and Gold with five kills, five digs and one service ace.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles return to action on Friday, September 9, when they welcome SUNY Delhi to Speidel Gymnasium for the first match of the Elmira College quad-match. The non-conference bout is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.