ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira College Women's Volleyball team picked up their first conference win of the season over the Highlanders from Houghton College on Saturday afternoon, going the distance in a 3-2 victory. After taking the first set in convincing fashion, the Soaring Eagles dropped the next two sets including a 25-23 battle in the third before taking a pair of nail biters in the fourth and fifth.  
 
JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 3, Houghton 2
LOCATION: Elmira, NY
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (5-5, 1-1 E8), Houghton (5-4, 1-1 E8)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
 
With the score knotted at 9-9 in the first set, the Soaring Eagles took their first clear advantage of the match when scoring nine unanswered points with Amelia Martin '23 serving. Martin, who notched five services aces during the run, used the help of a pair of kills and service aces to help EC to a first-set victory.
 
After Houghton ended the nine-point run, Elmira was able to score four of the next five to extend their lead even further, before a kill from Kaylene Sauschuck '22 ended the set.
 
Despite out-hitting and out-killing the Highlanders in the second set, the Soaring Eagles would suffer a 25-16 loss in the second after awarding the visitors 12 points from errors.
 
With the match tied, the momentum quickly shifted to the Highlanders who led 16-11 at the midway point in the third. After exchanging points back-and-forth, the Soaring Eagles would get as close as one point from the opposition before dropping the set 25-23.
 
Houghton came out strong, using a service error and three kills to their advantage to jump out to a quick 4-0 lead in the fourth frame. The tide officially turned for the Purple & Gold after scoring five straight to regain an 11-10 lead in the set. With 25 points not being enough to secure the set, Elmira would eventually rattle off two straight on a kill from Maddie Boucher '24 and a bad set from the Highlanders.
 
With the momentum shifted, the Soaring Eagles would take a 5-1 lead in the final set and never look back, winning the final frame 15-11 – capped off by a kill from Sam Sprague '22.
 
The Soaring Eagles were led by Sprague & Sauschuck with 13 kills apiece, while Boucher added 12 of her own. Sauschuck posted a hitting percentage of .417 on the day while Maddie Hampton '24 posted 13 digs. Cami Witchley '25 added 39 assists to help lead EC to victory.
 
UP NEXT:
Elmira returns to action on Monday, September 27 when they travel to Delhi for a date with the Broncos of SUNY Delhi. First serve is set for 6:00 PM.