TROY, N.Y. -- The Elmira College women's volleyball team (3-1, 2-1 E8) collected a pair of four-set victories against Russell Sage College (0-5, 0-3 E8) on Saturday afternoon. Elmira won the opening match, one that counted in the Empire 8 Conference standings, 25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 25-19 and then defeated the Gators in the nightcap 25-15, 24-26, 25-18, 25-16.
 
Elmira 3, Sage 1 (25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 25-19)
In the opening conference match of the day, the Elmira women produced an attack percentage of 22.4% on a 53k-21e-143 stat line. EC's efficiency from the floor helped the Soaring Eagles secure their second league win of the season.
 
Elmira utilized a 7-0 run in the first set to create enough separation to gain control of the set, but the Gators clawed their back to within four points at 20-16. However, EC won five of the final six points to secure the first set. Senior Savannah Terry '21 capped it with back-to-back service aces, accounting for two of her career-high eight aces.
 
Sage fought hard in the second set and tied it at 17-17, but a 7-0 run from the Soaring Eagles pushed the set out of reach and EC eventually closed it out at 25-20. During the 7-0 run, Terry racked up three aces and a kill.
 
The Gators gained momentum in the third set by winning a close one, 25-22, and led late in the fourth, 19-17. Once again, the Elmira women pieced together lengthy run behind the service efforts of Terry. EC rattled off eight consecutive points behind a pair of aces from Terry, as well as two kills each from Amelia Martin '23 and Maddie Boucher '24, to seal the set and match, 25-19.
 
Three Soaring Eagles finished with double-digit kills, led by Lydia Milligan '21 and her match-high 13 kills. She also added six digs.
 
Terry and Martin chipped in with 10 kills each. Terry also produced a match-high eight service aces, six digs and three blocks. Martin added one ace and four digs.
 
Kassi Hastings '21 orchestrated the attack with a match- and season-high 43 assists. She also added one kill, one ace and nine digs.
 
On defense, Maddie Hampton '24 logged a match-high 24 digs. Lauren Smith '21 finished with double-digit digs as well with 11.
 
Elmira 3, Sage 1 (25-15, 24-26, 25-18, 25-16)
The Soaring Eagles had their best offensive performance of the season in match two with a season-high 30.6% success rate on the attack (54k-17e-121ta).
 
EC controlled the opening set from start to finish. Sage came as close as two points at 13-11, but the Soaring Eagles won 12 of the next 15 points to win it 25-15. However, the Gators bounced back in the second set and won it narrowly, 26-24. Elmira had a set point at 24-23, but Sage won three straight to even the match at one set apiece.
 
The third set was even through 20 points, 10-10, but Elmira won six of the next seven to take command. During that 6-1 run, Boucher racked up five kills. Boucher's hot hitting continued as she produced back-to-back kills on the final two points of the set to clinch it 25-18.
 
Elmira never trailed at any point of the fourth set and used a 5-0 run to pull away by eight points late in the set, 22-14, before closing out the Gators for good, 25-16.
 
Milligan and Boucher registered double-doubles for the Soaring Eagles. Milligan had 14 kills and 16 digs, as well as two blocks, while Boucher amassed 14 kills and 13 digs.
 
Martin finished with a match-high six service aces, as well as four digs. Cassidy Ryan '24 served as EC's primary setter and logged 41 assists, seven digs and a pair of aces.
 
At libero, Hampton finished with a match-high 17 digs, as well as a pair of assists and one service ace.
 
Also contributing with big numbers on the defensive side of the ball was Kaylene Sauschuck '22, who registered a match-high four blocks.
 
News and Notes

• Elmira is 2-1 in Empire 8 play this season.
• Elmira's attack percentage (30.6%) in match two was a season high.
• EC's 15 aces in the match one was a season high.
• The team's 71 digs in match one were a season high.
• Terry's eight aces were a career high.
• Martin's six service aces were a career best.
• Milligan's 14 kills were a career high.
• Boucher's 14 kills and 13 digs were career bests.
• Hastings logged 40-plus assists for the fourth time in her career.
• Hampton's 21 digs were a career high.
• Ryan made her collegiate debut with an impressive 41-assist outing.

Up Next
The Soaring Eagles are back in action on Wednesday, April 7, when they host the Pioneers of Utica College in a 7:00 p.m. Empire 8 Conference matchup.