HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Down by eight points late in the second set to the Keuka College Wolves, the Houghton Highlanders staged a dramatic comeback, eventually breaking set-point five straight times and winning the final seven points in a pivotal match. 
 
The comeback propelled the Highlanders to a victory in their second match of the Houghton Tournament, salvaging a split on the first day. 
 
The women lost in straight sets in the first match to the Hiram Terriers.
 
Match #1: The Terriers came out swinging, hard, racking up 49 kills over the three sets. 
 
Four Hiram players posted eight kills or better, including senior Marissa Jay, who collected 17.
 
Midway through the second set, Sidney Pow slammed home a kill to bring the Highlanders within one, 13-14, but the Terriers responded with six kills over their final 11 points, allowing Houghton only three points during that stretch.
 
Match #2: After Houghton's dramatic second-set victory, the Wolves stormed back, jumping out to a quick 13-5 lead.
 
But Houghton refused to collapse.  A kill by Ally Bittinger and two more by Naomi Prentice built momentum for the Highlanders, who reeled off six straight points and 13 of the next 16.
 
Keuka continued to battle, eventually tying the set at 20, and hanging on to the final points.  A pair of kills by Prentice within the final rallies, however, would eventually seal the match for the Highlanders.
 
Match Vitals
Match #1: Houghton – 0 | Hiram – 3 (25-16, 25-16, 25-16)
Match #2: Houghton – 3 | Keuka – 0 (25-16, 26-24, 25-22)
Records: Houghton:  13-13 | Hiram: 17-7 | Keuka: 12-13
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton College
 
Key Stats
>> Prentice finished her day with 22 total kills, including 14 in the second match, while also adding four blocks.
>> Erica Barney collected 16 kills (8, 8) and 19 digs (8, 11), while Pow added 12 kills, including eight in the first match, and two blocks.
>> Anna Coryell dished out 58 assists (24, 33) and posted 10 digs, while Kaylee Haller nailed 11 kills, including nine in the second match.

Coach's Corner
"The girls played really hard in the first game, perhaps better than the scores indicate.  I'm really proud of how we fought back against Keuka.  On top of that, we were able to finish the second game and did not let up or lapse in the third set." –Coach Nancy Cole

Next Time Out.
Houghton continues play in their tournament tomorrow, closing out their season with matches against SUNY Cortland at 11:00 a.m. and Marywood University at 3:00 p.m.