ELMIRA, N.Y. – The Elmira College Women's Volleyball team picked up an Empire 8 Conference victory on Friday evening over host Russell Sage College, 3-0. For the Soaring Eagles, it was their second straight-sets win over an E8 opponent, doing so on October 8 at home against Utica.\

Maddie Boucher '24 paced the Purple & Gold with 11 kills, while Calli Vocke '23 added three blocks. Asia Curkendall '25 assisted 26 times, while adding 11 digs and a pair of service aces. 

JUST THE BASICS:
SCORE: Elmira 3, Russell Sage 0
LOCATION: Albany, N.Y. | Kahl Family Center 
TEAM RECORDS: Elmira (7-16, 2-4 E8), Russell Sage (4-18, 1-5 Empire 8)

HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Soaring Eagles edged the Gators in match hitting percentage, posting a .116% mark compared to .103% for the hosts. With each of the three sets being decided by three points or fewer, EC was able to grab a 1-0 lead in the match with a 25-22 first set victory. 

In a frame that featured 11 ties, the Soaring Eagles found themselves in a 16-12 hole nearing the end of the first set before scoring on six of the next seven points to retake the lead at 18-17. After the Gators re-tied the opening set (18-18), Elmira would go on to score five of the next six points to retake the lead 23-18 which included a service ace from Kayla Neer '25 and a kill from Samantha Garry '25. After one last effort from Sage, Curkendall would give EC a 1-0 lead after recording a kill, assisted by Boucher. 

Sage would once again take the lead midway through the second set, but squandered a 16-10 lead after the Soaring Eagles tallied five straight points to trim its deficit to just one (15-16). Sage would later come within one point of evening the match, but the Soaring Eagles would score five consecutive points, capped by a kill from Amelia Martin '23 to win the set 26-24. 

In the third, the Gators would once again jump out to an early 5-0 lead, and eventually 10-3 before the Soaring Eagles made its third comeback of the contest. EC would score seven of the next eight points to cut its deficit to one on kills from Morgan Richardson '25, Vocke, and Boucher before finding itself behind 14-11 after consecutive kills from Sage's Celia Gagnon.

From there, Elmira would score on five of its next six attempts, capped by a service ace from Gabriela Rodriguez '26. After tying the set, EC would once again score five consecutive points to take a 21-16 lead before capping the set, and match, on a kill from Garry. 

UP NEXT:
The Soaring Eagles hit the court tomorrow afternoon when paying a visit to Oneonta, New York to square off against the Hawks of Hartwick College. First serve is set for 2:00 PM.