ROCHESTER, NY – Fatigue caught up to the Houghton Highlanders on Saturday, as they dropped a pair of matches to the RIT Tigers (3-1) and the Penn State-Behrend Lions (3-2)
 
Against RIT the team fought back from two games down to take the third set thanks to four straight points from Morgan Potempa to end the game.
 
Trailing, 23-21, in the fourth set, Amy Huddell put away a kill and a Tigers' attack error tied the score.  RIT, however, quickly found their feet, notching the final two points to take the match.
 
In the second match, Houghton again rallied after dropping the first game.  This time, winning the second game and taking the third in dramatic fashion, 27-25.
 
The Lions rebounded to take the fourth set, tying the match at two games apiece.  In the final set, a Behrend attack error put the Highlanders up, 10-9, but the Lions quickly reeled off six of the next seven points to best the Highlanders. 
 
GAME VITALS
Game #1:
Score: Houghton – 1 | RIT – 3
Records: Houghton: 1-8 | RIT: 7-2
Scores: 11-25, 16-25, 25-20, 23-25
Venue: George H. Clark Gymnasium, Rochester Institute of Technology | Attendance: 175

Game #2:
Score: Houghton – 2 | Penn State-Behrend – 3
Records: Houghton: 1-9 | Penn State-Behrend: 6-5
Scores: 10-25, 25-21, 27-25, 11-25, 11-15
Venue: George H. Clark Gymnasium, Rochester Institute of Technology | Attendance: 150

NOTABLE STATS
>> Ally Bittinger and Jenna Bittinger became the first Houghton volleyball sibling pair to notch double-doubles in a match since moving to Division III.  Ally came within a kill of her second triple-double of the season against Behrend, picking up nine kills, 21 assists and 13 digs.  Jenna finished with 13 kills (and zero attack errors) and 10 digs.
 
>> Amber Edwards collected her second 15-kill match of the season, adding nine digs against the Lions.
 
>> Morgan Potempa led the Highlander defense with 27 digs over two matches.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"We were so close in the first game, but mental exhaustion failed us, and probably some physical exhaustion, too.  Our girls played really well, but we couldn't maintain when we need consistency at the end. 
 
"Next week is a new week.  Conference play, here we come!
 
"Both Bittinger girls played very well against Behrend, collecting double-doubles.  Ally was only one kill shy of her second straight triple-double." –Head Coach Nancy Cole
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders kick off conference play in the Nielsen Center on Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. when they host the Elmira Soaring Eagles.