UTICA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College Women's Volleyball team extended its winning streak to four consecutive matches on Saturday afternoon, as the Soaring Eagles swept Empire 8 Conference rival Utica to move into sole possession of second place on the conference leaderboard.

Elmira (10-12, 4-1 E8) flexed its muscles against the Pioneers (2-21, 0-5 E8) to the tune of a season-best .265 team attacking percentage. The Soaring Eagles floored a match-high 40 kills and held a 52-42 advantage in digs to solidify a stellar two-way effort.

Offensively, the Purple and Gold leaned on their middle hitters. Kaylene Sauschuck '22 tied for the team lead with 10 kills, while hitting at an eye-popping .714 clip. Savannah Terry '21 chipped in seven kills from the middle with a .636 attacking percentage. Lydia Milligan '21 provided firepower from the outside, as the junior floored 10 kills with only one error for a .409 attacking percentage.

EC leaned on an early lead in the opening frame to set the tone for the match. After going up 10-3, Utica eventually started to find its way back into the set, but rookie Amelia Martin '23 closed the door with a service ace to seal a 25-18 victory.

The Soaring Eagles absolutely dominated the second set. Elmira built on its momentum from the opening stanza, hitting at a match-best .333 clip compared to a -.107 mark from the Pioneers. A 6-0 run kick-started by a kill from Sauschuck made the difference as EC opened a 13-2 advantage and never looked back to run away with the set, 25-14.

The final set of the afternoon followed a similar script, as Elmira rushed out to a 9-1 lead behind a pair of kills from Sauschuck. Utica did not go away quietly, as the Pioneers pulled within two at 15-13. The Soaring Eagles were unfazed, however, as Lauren Smith '21 eventually brought the set to a close at 25-20 with a kill and an ace.

In his own words…
Head Coach Daniel Miranda on the team's performance…
"Today marked another big win for us to get that much closer to the Empire 8 Championships. We played controlled and disciplined ball throughout. Our middles were almost unstoppable and the team around them was scrappy and determined to keep plays alive today."

News and Notes

• Elmira improved to 10-12 overall and 4-1 in E8 play.
• Elmira's four Empire 8 victories are the most in a season since EC picked up five wins in 2015.
• The Soaring Eagles have won their last six contests against the Pioneers.
• Elmira's .265 attack-percentage marked a season-best.
• Milligan posted her fourth double of the season with 10 kills and a match-high 15 digs.
• Sauschuck's .714 attack percentage was a career-high.
• Sauschuck posted 10 kills without an attacking error for the second time this season.
• Kassi Hastings '21 registered a match-high 29 assists.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles take a break from E8 play with a midweek match against SUNY Delhi on Wednesday, October 16. The contest is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. start in Speidel Gymnasium.