BUFFALO, NY – The Medaille Mavericks rallied from a 2-1 deficit on Wednesday night, taking the final two sets from the visiting Houghton Highlanders in dramatic fashion to win the match, 3-2.
 
Houghton cruised through the first set, 25-15, behind a .400 attack percentage, while the Mavericks claimed the second, 25-20, with a strong attack of their own.
 
The Highlanders regained the momentum in the third set, 25-18, but the Mavericks again steeled their nerves.  After Houghton pulled within a point, 21-22, late in the fourth set, Medaille finished off the set with three straight points, forcing the pivotal fifth set.
 
The Mavericks jumped out to an early lead in the shortened set, and while Houghton made runs throughout, they were never able to catch up, eventually falling, 12-15.
 
GAME VITALS
Match Score: Houghton – 2 | Medaille – 3
Game Scores: 25-15, 20-25, 25-18, 21-25, 12-15
Records: Houghton: 8-13 (5-4 Empire 8) | Medaille: 6-19 (4-5 Empire 8)
Venue: Kevin I. Sullivan Center, Medaille College | Attendance: 54

NOTABLE STATS
>> During the first three sets, Houghton committed 10 total attack errors, while the Mavericks committed 17.  But over the final two sets, the number of Highlander errors rose to 16, while Medaille's sank to only two.
 
>> The Highlanders led the Mavericks in kills (55-44), assists (49-39), and digs (89-75).
 
>> Emma Cole collected a career-high 18 kills, posting a .361 attack percentage, while Ella Smith (season-high 14 kills) and Julie Immel (11 kills) also reach double-digits.
 
>> Haley Unverdorben posted her fourth consecutive double-double, and 10^th of the season, with 44 assists and 12 digs.
 
>> Rebekah Clark tied her career-best with 24 digs, while Bekah Fenn (career-high 16 digs), Marra Hovey (career-high 13 digs) and Smith (season-high 10 digs) also reached double-digits.  Smith also notched her first double-double of the season.   
 
COACH'S CORNER
"We came out dominant and then let fundamental inconsistencies control the flow of the second set.
 
"Hats off to Medaille, they've been pulling out close matches all season and we simply did not rise to the challenge before us tonight. 
 
"We have time to refresh, heal some bumps and bruises and come back ready to use this loss to drive us into the E8 post-season." – Interim Head Coach, Judy Fox
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will wrap up the regular season on Saturday, October 29 at 1:00pm on the road, when they travel to SUNY Fredonia for a non-conference matchup with the Blue Devils.

POSTSEASON PICTURE
Houghton has already clinched a berth in the Empire 8 postseason and would earn the No. 3 seed with two Nazareth losses this weekend. The Highlanders would be the No. 4 seed if Nazareth wins one or both of their matches this weekend, as Nazareth holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. Houghton holds the head-to-head tiebreaker on both Utica and Keuka, so they cannot drop below the No. 4 seed.