PITTSFORD, N.Y. – Despite being outscored through the first four sets, 98-69, the Houghton Highlanders displayed a resounding fortitude, battling back to take the second and fourth sets by two points each, to force a deciding fifth set with the St. John Fisher Cardinals.
 
Houghton pushed the final game down to the wire.  The Highlanders held a slim 10-9 advantage late before the Cardinals capitalized on two Houghton attack errors and a pair of kills by Katie Mazierski to pull out the victory, 15-12.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 2| St. John Fisher – 3
Records: Houghton: 7-9 (1-2 Empire 8) | St. John Fisher: 13-4 (3-0 Empire 8)
Scores: 6-25, 25-23, 13-25, 25-23, 12-15
Venue: Bobby Wanzer Court, St. John Fisher College | Attendance: 97

NOTABLE STATS
>> Houghton managed on 19 total points in the first and third sets, combined, but pulled out 25-23 victories in both the second and fourth sets.
>> Naomi Prentice led the Highlanders with eight kills, five blocks and 12.5 points.
>> Anna Coryell posted 21 assists and 11 digs, while Ally Bittinger added 16 digs.
>> Anna Marcy put away a game-high 24 kills, and Elise Kreuz added a game-high 28 digs for the Cardinals.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"We had a lot to prove after our start in the first game.  The [girls] were able to work their way back into the next game and really played well in the fourth and fifth sets.  We just had a few too many unforced errors at critical times." – Coach Brianne Starks
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to action on Friday when they travel to Buffalo to take on D'Youville College at 7:30 p.m.