ELMIRA, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's volleyball team treated the fans at Speidel Gymnasium to a four-set victory (25-19, 25-10, 24-26, 25-17) over visiting Hilbert College.
 
The Soaring Eagles (3-6) hit at a 20.2-percent clip on a 46k-21e-124ta stat line. Meanwhile, the Hawks of Hilbert (0-5) connected on 7.4-percent of their chances (26k-18e-108ta). Additionally, Elmira produced a 57-percent side-out percentage, while Hilbert finished at 41-percent.
 
Second-year middle-hitter Kaylene Sauschuck '22 led the Soaring Eagle attack with 10 kills and hit at a 56.2-percent clip. Close behind was Lauren Smith '21, who logged eight kills, as well as Savannah Terry '21 and Amelia Martin '23, who both finished with seven kills apiece.
 
Kassi Hastings '21 set the table for the Elmira women with 35 assists to go along with a 13-dig effort. It marked her fourth double-double performance of the 2019 campaign.
 
Defensively, EC's starting libero, Jena Gatto' 20, led all players with a match- and career-high 17 digs. At the net, Terry paced the team with a pair of blocks, one solo and one assist, as well as a career-high seven aces.
 
Elmira won the opening set, 25-19, behind a pair of four-point runs midway through the set. During those two runs, Terry logged two kills and one block, while Sam Sprague '22 added one kill and one block.
 
The second set was all Elmira, much of which had to do with the precise serving of Kelsey Lofvenborg '22. At 11-7, Lofvenborg served up four aces as part of a 9-0 on her serve and a 10-run overall. Lofvenborg ended the match with five aces. Those efforts all but sealed a 25-10 second-set victory for the Soaring Eagles.
 
Control of the third set shifted back-and-forth with big runs coming from both sides. Hilbert took control late in the set with a 3-0 run to take a 24-21 lead, but Elmira stormed back with three straight points to knot the score at 24-24. However, the Hawks were able to eke out the next two points to force a fourth set.
 
Elmira jumped out to a big lead in the fourth set, going up by as many as nine points at 20-11. Hilbert tried to claw its way back, but the momentum was heavily in Elmira's favor, as the Purple and Gold won the set, 25-17, and clinched the match 3-sets-to-1.
 
In His Own Words
Head Coach Daniel Miranda shares his thoughts on today's win…
"It was a solid team win today. Our middles came alive offensively and will hopefully continue to flourish going forward. Our defense still needs to be cleaned up and be a bit more aggressive, but we are making progress and significant strides. I'm excited to see how we look this weekend."
 
News and Notes

• Elmira picked up its first home-opening win since 2017.
• EC snapped a five-loss skid with tonight's win.
• Sauschuck logged a season-high 10 kills, which matched her career best.
• Gatto logged a career-high 17 digs.
• Hastings produced her fourth double-double of the season with 35 assists and 13 digs.
• It marked the third time this year Hastings has recorded 35-plus assists in a match.
• Terry's seven service aces were a career high.
• Lofvenborg's five service aces were a career high.

 
Up Next
The Elmira women will look to keep the ball rolling this weekend when they travel to compete in the two-day Oswego State Invitational. Elmira opens the invite on Friday, September 13, with a 6:00 p.m. neutral-site matchup with the Roos of SUNY Canton.