BUFFALO, N.Y. – Eight different players collected kills, as a well-balanced attack and some strong team defense led the Houghton Highlanders past the Buffalo State Bengals on Thursday night, 3-0.
Early in the first set Houghton took advantage of a pair of 5-0 runs and never looked back, building momentum throughout each set.
The win brings the Highlanders back to the .500 mark with eight matches remaining in the regular season.
Game Vitals
Score: Houghton – 3 | Buffalo State – 0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-15)
Records: Houghton: 10-10 | Fredonia State: 5-20
Venue: Buffalo Sports Arena, Buffalo, NY| Attendance: 80
Key Moments
>> With Houghton leading 7-6 in the first set, two kills by
Ally Bittinger helped fuel a 5-0 Highlander run. Shortly thereafter,
Naomi Prentice would pick up a pair of kills during another 5-0 run and the Highlanders cruised to an opening set victory.
>> In the crucial second set, Houghton raced out to an early advantage thanks to kills by Bittinger, Prentice and a pair by
Erica Barney.
With the Highlanders leading, 8-3, Buffalo State called a timeout, but the purple and gold's momentum would remain. From that point on, the Highlanders never led by fewer than five points, taking the second game, 25-15 and repeating that score in the final set.
Key Stats
>> Houghton came out swinging, racking up 37 kills over the three sets thanks to a 26 percent attack percentage.
>> Prentice led the Highlanders with nine kills and four blocks, while Bittinger collected eight kills and 11 digs.
>> Barney finished the night with six kills and 12 digs, and
Anna Coryell posted 22 assists.
Coach's Corner
"A well-balanced attack and solid defense helped us take control of the match from the start. The girls played with a lot of energy and they finished the match at a strong and consistent level." –Coach
Nancy Cole
Next Time Out
Houghton takes a week off before returning to action next Thursday, October 20 when they return to the Nielsen Center to take on the Hawks of Hilbert College at 7:00 p.m.
The Highlanders have won each of the last four meetings between the two teams, losing only two sets during that time.
