Match 1: Keene State 3, Elmira 0
Match 2: RIT 3, Elmira 0
Location: Keene, NH – Spaulding Gymnasium
Records: Elmira (1-3), Keene State (5-3), RIT (6-2)
KEENE, NH – The Elmira College women's volleyball team battled two tough opponents on Saturday afternoon, but couldn't overcome early deficits in both matches as the Soaring Eagles fell to host Keene State and RIT on the final day of the Granite State Challenge.
Match 1
Elmira started the day off against tournament host Keene State. The Soaring Eagles battled the Owls, but the hosts held out for a three set victory (25-19, 25-15, 25-9).
The first set was the closest of the match as the Purple and Gold were able to stage a comeback after slipping behind early. Back-to-back kills from
Savannah Terry '21 and
Natalie Schieder '19 cut the Owls' lead to 9-7. Keene State was able to rebuild its advantage as a 9-0 run put EC in a 22-11 hole. Elmira responded with a 5-0 run of its own highlighted by four service aces from Schieder, but it was too little, too late, as Keene State took the opener 25-19.
The Owls jumped out to an early lead again in the second set, as Elmira was once again tasked with mounting a comeback. After falling behind 18-6,
Tiara John '19 and rookie
Kaylene Sauschuck '22 kick-started the run by flooring two-straight kills. Two errors from Keene State forced the hosts to burn a timeout with the score at 18-12. That was as close as Elmira would get however as the Owls claimed the second set.
EC battled Keene State early on in the set as the score was knotted three times during the first five points. It was all Owls from there as Elmira couldn't find its rhythm on offense as Keene State took the set and the match.
Match 2
Elmira had a quick turnaround as it was back on the court at 2:00 p.m. to battle Liberty League power RIT. Despite a valiant performance by the Soaring Eagles, the Tigers claimed a three-set victory (25-14, 26-24, 25-9).
The Purple and Gold played the Tigers tight in the early stages of the opening set as the score was tied on five occasions. Two aces from
Kasey Campbell '19 tied knotted the score at 8-8. The back-and-forth continued as
Lauren Smith '21 floored a kill to make it 11-11. The Tigers took the momentum from there, as they slowly built up their advantage before closing the set on an 8-0 run.
The second set was a battle as both teams traded blows throughout the frame. EC was able to take its first lead of the match at 19-18 after two straight errors by the tigers. A service ace from terry gave Elmira a three-point lead at 22-19 and forced RIT into a timeout. The Tigers responded out of the timeout with a 3-0 run to knot the game at 22-22. Schieder lifted the Soaring Eagles once again to make it 23-22. The Tigers edged ahead before John ted it the score again at 24-24, but RIT stormed back to take the final two points and win the set.
RIT jumped out to an early lead in the third set and never looked back as a 12-0 run put the Soaring Eagles down big. EC couldn't recover from the deficit as the Tigers held on for the match win.
News and Notes
- Kaznowski has recorded double-digit assists in all four of EC's matches to start the season.
- Schieder has led the Soaring Eagles in kills in every match to start the year.
- Sauschuck has established herself as a presence at the net for the Soaring Eagles, as the rookie is tied for third on the team with 11 kills.
Up Next
Elmira is back in action on Tuesday, September 11, when it keeps its season-opening road trip going at Hilbert College. First serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
