Score: Pitt-Bradford 3, Elmira 1 (25-18, 25-20, 21-25, 25-22
Records: Elmira (4-6), Pitt-Bradford (8-7)
Location: Elmira, N.Y. – Speidel Gymnasium

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's volleyball team dropped a hard-fought four-set thriller inside of Speidel Gymnasium on Monday evening, falling to the visiting Panthers of Pitt-Bradford.

Elmira struggled to hit around Pitt-Bradford's blockers, as the Panthers tallied 11 total blocks. Natalie Schieder '19 produced another stalwart effort for the Soaring Eagles, tallying a double-double with a season-high 20 kills and 18 digs. Every set was tightly contested, but the Panthers were able to fend off the Purple and Gold's high-powered attack to earn the victory.

The first set painted the script for the rest of the match as neither side gained much of an edge. The score was knotted on seven separate occasions as the teams traded blow throughout the opener. With the score tied at 17-17, the Panthers were able to generate a 6-0 run to put Elmira in a hole late in the set. Schieder halted the streak after combining with Taylor Kaznowski, but it was too little too late as Pitt-Bradford took the set 25-18.

The early portion of the second set saw more of the same, until Pitt-Bradford used a 4-0 run to force EC into a timeout with the score at 13-10. Kaylene Sauschuck '22 and Schieder tallied back-to-back kills to halt the run and pull the Soaring Eagles back within one. The back-and-forth carried on from there, but an attacking error forced Elmira to call a timeout with Pitt-Bradford leading 23-19. A Panthers' error pulled EC back within three, but two straight kills from the Panthers ended the set.

Elmira rallied in the third set, using five service aces to headline its attacking barrage. EC slipped behind early, but a 3-0 run highlighted by a kill from Sauschuck, put EC ahead 12-9. Pitt-Bradford briefly regained the lead, but another 3-0 run by the Soaring Eagles silenced the threat. Schieder kick started the run with a kill before Kaznowski tallied an ace to put the Purple and Gold up 18-16. EC never relinquished its lead from there, as another ace, this time from Kasey Campbell '19 forced the Panthers into a timeout with the score at 21-18. Pitt-Bradford pulled within two at 23-21, but a kill from Schieder and an ace from Savannah Terry '21 sealed the set for the Soaring Eagles.

The final set of the evening saw the back and forth continue, but following a kill from Sauschuck, the Panthers were able to launch a counter attack with a 4-0 run that put Elmira in a 13-8 hole. The Soaring Eagles responded with a 5-0 run of their own as Schieder rattled off three-straight kills to pull EC back within one at 17-16. Pitt Bradford countered and went up 23-19 before Tiara John '19 floored one of her five kills to cut the deficit to three. It was too little to late however as Pitt Bradford took the final set 25-22, and the match 3-1.

News and Notes

• Schieder tallied her third double-double in as many games with 20 kills and a season-high 18 digs.
• EC had four players finish with double-digit digs as Campbell (24), Kaznowski (20), Schieder (18) and John (15) all were solid on the defensive side of the ball.
• Kaznowski's 37 assists tied her season-high, set in the 3-0 season-opening win over New England College (9/7).
• Terry tied her season-high with seven kills against the Panthers after posting seven against Oswego State (9/15).
• Sauschuck tallied the most kills of her young career on Monday night, finishing with nine.
• Campbell's 24 digs were a season-high.

 
Up Next
The Soaring Eagles hit the road to battle Houghton in their Empire 8 opener on Tuesday, September 18. First serve is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.