HOUGHTON, NY – Julie Immel turned in a career day, leading the Houghton Highlanders from a one-set deficit to a 3-1 victory over the visiting Keuka Wolves, picking up their fifth conference victory of the season and setting numerous personal bests along the way.
 
The Highlanders jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the first set, but the Wolves battled back to tie the game, 13-13, and the two teams traded leads deep into the set.  With the game tied, 22-22, Keuka picked up back-to-back kills and won the set on a Houghton attack error.
 
Houghton came back with a vengeance, winning the third set handily, 25-16, before entering the critical seesaw third set.
 
Midway through the set, Houghton pulled ahead.  Leading, 21-16, late in the set, the Wolves battled back, winning four straight points to pull within one, 21-20.  After Houghton won the next two points, the Wolves again reeled off four straight to earn set-point, 24-23.  The Highlanders, however, refused to relent.  A kill by Ella Smith tied the score, and a Keuka attack error gave Houghton set-point, setting up a set-winning kill from Haley Unverdorben to Emma Cole, giving Houghton a 2-1 lead and significant momentum heading into the final set.
 
With the pendulum swinging in their favor, Houghton rolled through the final set, winning, 25-13.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 3 | Keuka – 1
Records: Houghton: 8-12 (5-3 Empire 8) | Keuka: 7-13 (3-4 Empire 8)
Scores: 22-25, 25-16, 26-24, 25-13
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 104

NOTABLE STATS
>> Immel matched her career-best of 21 kills—a feat she accomplished in a five-set match in last year's season finale against Buffalo State College—while committing only one attack error in 44 chances, good for a .455 attack percentage.  In her last three matches Immel has compiled 46 kills.
 
>> Haley Unverdorben collected 43 assists – a new season-high, and the second time this season she has eclipsed the 40-assist mark—and 14 digs, her third consecutive double-double and ninth of the season.  With her 29^th assist of the day, Unverdorben reached another milestone: 2,700 career assists.  She currently ranks fourth all-time in career assists.
 
>> Rebekah Clark and Bekah Fenn also reached double-digit dig totals for the Highlanders, notching 17 and 10, respectively.  Fenn's dig total is a new career-high and the first time she has reached double-digits.  Hannah Catalino also collected seven digs on the day, giving her 102 for her career.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"I'm proud of how our team continues to position themselves to accomplish goals they set in pre-season.
 
"I'm especially pleased that we had three athletes who had double digits in digs (Rebekah Clark, Rebekah Fenn, and Haley Unverdorben). Julie Immel was dominant again today with 21 kills and Emma Cole balanced the attack with 12.
 
"Hannah Catalino got her 100th career dig while Haley's ability to dissect a defense and spread an offense is once again remarkable. With her season high 43 assists today, Haley has surpassed 2700 in her amazing career here at Houghton.
 
"This was a great team weekend and a couple of big wins as we step toward Empire 8 post-season seeding." – Interim Head Coach, Judy Fox
  
UP NEXT
The Highlanders travel to Buffalo on Wednesday, October 19 for their final Empire 8 regular season contest against the Medaille Mavericks.  2022 is the first year Medaille has been a member of the Empire 8.  In the only previous meeting between the two teams, Houghton defeated Medaille in straight sets on September 18, 2021.