ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's volleyball team wrapped up its Empire 8 Conference schedule on Saturday evening, as the Soaring Eagles fell in a four-set thriller on the road against Nazareth.

Despite the setback, the Purple and Gold (11-14) ended their conference schedule with a 4-3 record, sealing the No. 4-seed in the Empire 8 Championships. Nazareth (12-14, 5-2 E8) earned the third seed in the postseason tournament with the victory.

EC struggled to contain Nazareth's two-pronged attack, as Melissa Newcomb and Delaney Martin finished with 17 and 11 kills, respectively. Savannah Terry '21 acted as the catalyst for Elmira's offense, tallying a team-high 10 kills with no errors while hitting at a stellar .667 clip.

After the hosts rolled in the opening set, the Soaring Eagles responded with authority in the second frame. EC slipped behind early, 10-5, but behind the service of Lauren Smith '21 the Purple and Gold rattled off seven straight points to take a 12-10 lead.

Nazareth eventually jumped out to a 24-21 lead, but Elmira fended off set-point with a 3-0 run highlighted pair of aces from Kaylene Sauschuck '22. The teams exchanged points from there until Sabrina Didas '20 and Terry combined for a huge block to give EC a 28-26 win.

Elmira battled back from an early deficit in the third frame, but Nazareth hit at a .400 clip to keep the Soaring Eagles at bay. EC floored 10 kills in the set, but the Golden Flyers held on for a 25-20 win.

Despite a valiant effort in the final frame, the Purple and Gold were unable to swing the momentum in back in their favor, as Nazareth took the final set, 25-15, and the match, 3-1.

News and Notes

• EC secured the No. 4-seed in the Empire 8 Championships.
• Elmira will compete in the postseason for the first time since 2015 when the Soaring Eagles were also a 4-seed.
• The Soaring Eagles will face St. John Fisher in the E8 Semifinals, who they are 2-0 against in the postseason.
• Kassi Hastings '21 tallied 20 assists.
• Cassie Potter '20 posted a match-high 18 digs.
• Potter's 18 digs marked a season-high.
• Terry's .667 attack-percentage was a season-best.
• Didas registered a season-high five blocks.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles will head to Oneonta, New York, on Friday, November 1, to open up the Dig Pink Pink Invitational at SUNY Cortland. EC will take on the host Red Dragons at 6:00 p.m. to kick-off the two-day affair.