PITTSFORD, N.Y. – In a battle of the last two undefeated teams in the Empire 8, the St. John Fisher Cardinals defeated the Houghton Highlanders, 3-1, on Friday night.
 
The Highlanders came out of the gates at a sprint, opening up an early 7-2 lead in the first set.  Fisher rallied to take a 12-11 lead, and the two teams seesawed to the end of the set.  With the Cardinals leading 22-20, a kill by Jenna Bittinger, followed by two service aces by Rebekah Clark and a kill by Brooke Lewandowski gave Houghton set-point.  A Fisher kill pulled the Cardinals within one, but a service error gave the Highlanders the first set.
 
The Cardinals came back with a vengeance in the second, cruising to a 25-16 win.
 
With Fisher leading 19-14 in the third, Houghton reeled off six of the next seven points to tie the set, 20-20.  After again trading leads the score stood tied, 24-24, when a Cardinals kill gave them set-point and a Houghton attack error gave them the critical third set.
 
After Houghton opened up a 12-8 lead in the fourth set, Fisher answered by scoring 10 of the next 12 points, building a lead they would not relinquish for the remainder of the set.  While Houghton would remain within striking distance, they could not overcome the deficit.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 1| St. John Fisher – 3
Records: Houghton: 14-4 (2-1 Empire 8) | St. John Fisher: 15-6 (4-0 Empire 8)
Scores: 25-23, 16-25, 24-26, 21-25
Venue: Bobby Wanzer Court, St. John Fisher College | Attendance: 201

NOTABLE STATS
>> The Cardinals maintained an advantage in kills (53-34) and committed fewer attack errors (14-23.  Houghton collected five more digs as a team (59-54).
 
>> Lewandowski and Amy Huddell led the Highlanders attack with eight and seven kills apiece, respectively.  Ally Bittinger and Morgan Potempa added 16 and 13 digs apiece, respectively.
 
>> Alea Steigerwald  paced the Cardinals with a match-high 27 kills on 48 attacks, while Lauren Gilbert posted 17 kills on 41 attacks.
 
UP NEXT
Houghton returns to the Nielsen Center tomorrow to take on the Nazareth Golden Flyers at 1:00 p.m.  Nazareth is currently 3-1 in Empire 8 play, their only loss coming at the hands of the St. John Fisher Cardinals.