Box Score CAZENOVIA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's volleyball team took the opening set from Alfred State on Friday night, but was unable to replicate that success for the remainder of what turned into a four-set loss to the Pioneers in the first round of the Cazenovia College Invitational.
The Soaring Eagles (0-1) impressed on the offensive side of the net in the first set, logging 13 kills versus just five errors for a match-best .276 attack percentage. However, the team hit no better than .114 in the final three sets, as the Pioneers (1-0) claimed the win, 15-25, 25-17, 25-17, 25-21.
EC's middles were among the squad's most productive players in the 2019 season opener.
Savannah Terry '21 posted team-highs with nine kills and a .389 attack percentage. The junior from Owego, New York, also had three total blocks and one ace.
Kaylene Sauschuck '22 led the Purple and Gold with a trio of solo blocks, in addition to five kills.
Second-year right-side hitter
Sam Sprague '22 floored seven kills, more than double her output from her entire freshman campaign. On the outside,
Jena Gatto '20 contributed five kills, six digs and a pair of service aces. Orchestrating the attack was rookie setter
Amelia Martin '23. The first-year talent from Athens, Pennsylvania, had 21 assists in her first-ever collegiate match.
News and Notes
- Elmira fell to 0-1 to open the 2019 season, while Alfred State kicked off the campaign at 1-0.
- EC swatted 13 of its 35 kills in the first set, which resulted in a 25-15 win, the most lopsided set of the match.
- Including Martin, rookies Beth Collins '23, Gianna Pezzino '23, and Michaela Godbold '23 each appeared in their first-ever match for the Soaring Eagles.
- Sprague's seven kills and Gatto's five kills both represent single-match career-highs.
- Lauren Smith '20 led all Soaring Eagles with 12 digs, one more than her previous career-best.
Up Next
The second half of the Cazenovia College Invitational on Saturday, August 31, will see Elmira take on Mount Saint Mary College (N.Y.) at 2:00 p.m. and the host Wildcats of Caz at 4:00 p.m.
