WILLIAMSPORT, PA. -- Solid all-around performances from several members of the Elmira College women's volleyball team helped pave the way for a pair of victories at the Penn College Tri-Match on Saturday afternoon. With the wins, the Soaring Eagles improve to 8-12 on the year.
 
Match One
Elmira needed five sets in the opening contest of today's tri-match to dispatch of Gallaudet University. The Soaring Eagles won the second, third and fifth sets to secure the win.
 
The second set was a tight one, as both teams traded leads, but consistency down the stretch was the key for Elmira. Kills on the final three points from Lydia Milligan '21, Savannah Terry '21 and Sabrina Didas '20 sealed the second set, 25-20, and tied the match at 1-1. EC hit at a blistering 32.1% clip in the set.
 
There was no doubting EC in the third set, as the Soaring Eagle defense forced the Bison to hit in the negatives (-5.4%) while hitting at an 18.2% clip of their own. Elmira led by as many as 14 points in the set, before closing out the Bison, 25-14.
 
After dropping a nail-biter in the fourth, Elmira rallied in the fifth set to secure the win. EC trailed by as many as three points at 10-7, and by two points at 11-9, but the Purple and Gold won six of the final seven points to upend the Bison for a 15-12 fifth-set victory.
 
Milligan and Lauren Smith '21 shined for the Soaring Eagles with a pair of double-doubles. Milligan produced a team-high 12 kills to go along with 15 digs, while Smith finished with 10 kills and a team-high 19 digs.
 
Offensively, Didas, Terry and Kaylene Sauschuck '22 all chipped in with nine kills apiece. Sauschuck hit at 35.3% and Terry finished with an attack percentage of 30.0%. Kassi Hastings '21 orchestrated the Elmira attack with 38 assists and two service aces.
 
Defensively, four EC players logged double-digit digs. Aside from Smith and Milligan, Cassie Potter '20 and Ameilia Martin '23 added double-digit efforts with 15 and 10, respectively.
 
Match Two
Elmira rode the momentum from its opening win to clinch a four-set triumph over the host Wildcats of Penn College.
 
After starting the match in a bit of a funk, Elmira bounced back in a big way in the second set to clinch a tight 25-21 win. EC committed just one attack error in the set and finished with an attack percentage of 43.3%, as weekend best for the Purple and Gold.
 
Control of the third set teetered between the two sides, with both teams making lengthy runs down the stretch. Elmira showed its grit during the last portion by winning three of the final four points to solidify a 26-24 win.
 
Elmira took control of the fourth set early on and a trio of runs split at 2-1 in favor of EC saw the Soaring Eagles go up by as many as seven points. The seven-point cushion was more than enough as the Purple and Gold capped the day with a 25-18 win in the fourth set to secure a 3-1 win.
 
Coach Miranda spread out the offense in the second match as 13 different players finished with at least one kill. Milligan and Kelsey Lofvenborg '22 led the pack with seven kills apiece, while Terry was not far behind with six.
 
Hastings had a monster day at the service line with a match-high six aces. She also dished out 25 assists and produced five digs.
 
Potter logged 10 digs in the match, making her the only player to finish with double-digit digs in both contests.
 
In His Own Words
Head Coach Daniel Miranda shares his thoughts on today's wins…
"They were two necessary wins for us. Every player made an impact on the court today. Our freshmen received opportunities and stepped up in a huge way. Our ability to side-out under pressure got us through our first five-setter and throughout the entire Penn College match. Having everyone involved in these wins allows us all to regroup and have focal points going into a big practice week leading into conference matches."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira produced 52 kills against Gallaudet, which is tied for the season high.
• EC logged 12 service aces against Penn College and 10 against Gallaudet.
• It marked the seventh time this season EC has recorded 10 or more aces in a match.
• As a team, EC finished with 70 digs against Gallaudet, the second-highest total of the year.
• Elmira won its first five-set match of the 2019 campaign.
• Hastings' six service aces were a career high.
• Hastings has recorded 30-plus assists in six matches this season.
• Milligan's 12 kills were a career high.
• Milligan registered the second double-double of her career.
• Smith produced her third double-double of the year.
• Smith's 19 digs were a career high.
• Potter has finished with double-digit digs in nine matches this season.
• Potter has logged 10 or more digs in seven of her last nine matches.

Up Next
Elmira returns to action on Friday, October 11, when the Soaring Eagles host the Gators of Sage. The Empire 8 Conference match is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. inside Speidel Gymnasium.