HOUGHTON, NY – Brooke Decker and
Haley Unverdorben helped lead the Houghton Highlanders to a straight-set victory over the visiting Utica Pioneers on Sunday afternoon.
Decker nailed down nine kills without an attack error, and added seven service aces, while Unverdorben posted 30 assists, seven digs and three aces of her own.
The Pioneers kept things close throughout. In the first set, after a kill by
Allison Morgan forced set-point, Utica's Kurstan Martin picked up two kills of her own to tie the game, 24-24. Unverdorben, however, quickly found
Adeline Roeske for a kill in the middle to put the Highlanders on top, then set Decker on the right side for the winning kill.
The second set played out nearly the same as the first. This time, Houghton's
Jenna Bittinger nailed down a kill and served two consecutive aces to give the Highlanders' set-point. Again, Utica quickly picked up two points to tie the match, 24-24, but two Utica attack errors put Houghton up, 2-0.
In the final set, Houghton jumped out to a commanding 18-9 lead, thanks to five straight service points by Unverdoben.
With the Highlanders up, 20-15, Decker took over, first posting a loud kill from the right side, then picking up three straight service points. After Utica picked up two more points,
Allison Morgan closed out the match with a left-side kill.
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 3|Utica – 0
Records: Houghton: 2-1 (2-0 Empire 8) | Utica: (1-2 Empire 8)
Scores: 26-24, 26-24, 25-17
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton College | Attendance: 0
NOTABLE STATS
>>
Jenna Bittinger finished with nine kills and eight digs, while
Alyssa Lyon and
Allison Morgan each posted six kills and eight digs for the Highlanders.
>> Julyanna Sauschuck and Briana Toledo led the Pioneers with seven kills, and 12 digs, respectively.
UP NEXT
Houghton travels to Russell Sage Colleges on Wednesday, March 31 for a matchup with the Gators at 6:00 p.m. The last time the two teams met, on October 25, 2019, Houghton defeated the Sage in straight sets at the Nielsen Center.
