Match 1: Elmira 3, Utica 1 (23-25, 25-19, 25-4, 25-12)
Match 2: Elmira 3, Sage 0 (25-6, 25-13, 25-12)
Records: Elmira 6-7 (2-1 E8), Utica 3-10 (1-1 E8), Sage 3-10 (0-3 E8)
Location: Elmira, N.Y. - Speidel Gymnasium

ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's volleyball cruised to two Empire 8 Conference wins inside of Sepidel Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon, downing Utica and Sage in four, and three sets, respectively.

Match 1
After dropping a back-and-forth first set against the Pioneers, the Soaring Eagles came roaring back, winning the final three sets to down their E8 foe. EC had three players tally double-digit kills as Natalie Schieder '19, Tiara John '19, and Savannah Terry '21 finished with 15, 14 and 11 kills, resepectively. Taylor Kaznowski '19 pulled the strings once again for the Purple and Gold with a season-high 46 assists.

After dropping a back-and-forth first set, EC used a 6-0 run to go up 9-4 on Utica early  in the second set before back-to-back kills from John and Smith cemented the Soaring Eagles lead at 18-13. The Purple and Gold never looked back, fending off a 5-0 run from the Pioneers as Smith floored her fifth kill of the set to seal the 25-19 victory.

The Soaring Eagles were all over Utica in the third set, trouncing the Pioneers 25-4. Terry led the barrage with a .625 hitting percentage as she racked up five kills. Three aces from John and three kills from sophomore Lydia Milligan '21 ensured EC's smooth sailing. After the score was tied at 4-4, Elmira exploded behind the service from John, wrapping up the set on a 21-0 run.

Elmira continued its torrid pace in the final set, as Schieder floored nine kills to guide the Soaring Eagles to victory. After trading blows early on, the Purple and Gold used a 12-0 run bookended by kills from Schieder to open an 18-7 lead. Elmira kept its foot on the gas as Kaznowski chipped in two aces and Schieder ended the match with an ace.

Match 2
The Soaring Eagles faced Sage in their second match of the day and kept their momentum rolling, defeating the Gators in straight-sets. John paced EC with a match-high 10 kills while hitting at a .600 clip. The Purple and Gold showcased their prowess from the service line, tallying 19 aces against Sage. Kaznowski doubled her ace tally from the earlier match, grabbing six aces against the Gators.

After a kill from Sage halted the Soaring Eagles momentum with the score at 12-6, Elmira recovered quickly with a kill from Schieder. Behind the service of Terry, the Purple and Gold went on a 12-0 run to wrap up the opening set as Terry tallied three aces.

John led the way for the Soaring Eagles in the second set, flooring seven kills as Elmira took the set 25-13. Sage made it interesting in the early goings of the set, overcoming a 7-2 deficit to eventually not the score at 11-11. The Purple and Gold used a 7-0 run to regain the lead and never looked back, as Kasey Campbell '19 kicked-off a 4-0 run to end the match with back-to-back aces as Elmira claimed the set 25-13.

Elmira wrapped up the third and final set in convincing fashion, using a 10-0 run, highlighted two-straight kills from Milligan, to open a 15-4 lead. The Purple and Gold cruised from there as freshman Kelsey Lofvenborg '22 ended brought the match to a close with a kill.

News and Notes

• The Soaring Eagles four-set win over Utica marked their first win in a match that went further than three sets this season.
• Terry's 11 kills were a season-high for the sophomore.
• Kaznowski's 46 assists are the most for the senior since she posted 46 assists against SUNY Oneonta last season.
• Elmira's win over Utica marked the first time this season the Soaring Eagles have had four players finish with double-digit kills.
• After her 73 assists this afternoon, Kaznowski is now 25 assists away from passing Jen Crout '04 on EC's all-time career-assists leaderboard.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles take a break from Empire 8 action when they head to the Worthington Classic, hosted by Marymount University, next weekend. The two-day tournament kicks-off on Friday, Septemeber 28, when the Purple and Gold challenge FDU Florham and Lycoming College.