ELMIRA, N.Y. -- For the first time since the 2015 season, the Elmira College women's volleyball team will participate in the Empire 8 Conference Championships after earning the No. 4 seed in the postseason tournament. The Soaring Eagles will take on the Cardinals of St. John Fisher College in the semifinal round on Friday, November 8, at 5:00 p.m.
Tournament Information
Semifinals – Friday, November 8
*All matches will be played on the campus of St. John Fisher*
No. 4 Elmira (13-15, 4-3 E8) vs. No. 1 St. John Fisher (21-10, 7-0 E8) at 5:00 p.m.
No. 3 Nazareth (12-17, 5-2 E8) vs. No. 2 Houghton (20-4, 6-1 E8) at 7:00 p.m.
Winners of the semifinal matches will advance to the Empire 8 Championship on Saturday, November 9. The contest is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. inside St. John Fisher's Manning & Napier Varsity Gymnasium. Admission to all matches is $6 for adults and $4 for students and seniors with a valid ID. Children ages 12 and under are free. All tickets will be available for purchase at the gate on the day of the match.
What a Start
The Soaring Eagles featured a new bench boss for the first time in 31 seasons in 2019, as Head Coach
Daniel Miranda took over the reins from longtime coach
Rhonda Faunce. Miranda led the team to a 13-15 overall record, posting the second-most wins in a coaching debut in program history. Miranda doubled the Purple and Gold's conference victories from a year ago, leading to the highest total since 2015.
How They Made It
The Soaring Eagles secured their first postseason bid in four years based on their work in the early portion of their conference schedule. EC went 2-1 in its first three E8 contests, picking up critical victories over Hartwick and Alfred. Elmira picked up two more wins over Sage and Utica, positioning the team for the No. 2 seed in the tournament. However, EC moved to No. 4 after the final weekend of conference play shook up the standings. St. John Fisher rolled through E8 play this season, posting a perfect 7-0 record to lock up the No. 1 overall seed in the postseason.
By Committee
Elmira has taken a more balanced offensive approach this season as compared to recent years. Four players have over 130 kills, headlined by
Lauren Smith '21, who paces the team with 200 kills and a 2.22 kills-per-set average.
Savannah Terry '21 established herself as a two-way threat, tallying 175 kills while swinging at a team-best .275 clip. The junior also leads the Purple and Gold in blocks (60) and is second in service aces (38).
Lydia Milligan '21 and
Kaylene Sauschuck '22 round out EC's attacking corps with 138 and 131 kills, respectively.
Stopping Steigerwald
One of the biggest keys for the Soaring Eagles to earn an upset over the Cardinals will be slowing down potential Empire 8 Player of the Year candidate Alea Steigerwald. The talented sophomore claimed Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors last season and is on a tear once again. She leads the conference in kills (460), kills per set (4.42) and aces (63), ranks third in aces per set (0.61) and is sixth in hitting percentage (.240).
Series History
The Cardinals own a 45-17 advantage all-time over the Purple and Gold in a series that goes back over 30 years. St. John Fisher has emerged victorious in the previous four meetings between the feathered foes, as Elmira last captured a win in 2015. However, the Soaring Eagles are a spotless 2-0 against the Cardinals in the Empire 8 Championships, earning victories in 2002 and 2011.
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