ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick Hawks remained unbeaten in Empire 8 conference play, prevailing in a seesaw, hard-fought, 3-1, battle with the Houghton Highlanders on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Hawks pulled out three-point victories in each of the first two sets, including a dramatic win the second set, which saw Houghton's Katie Naprawa tie the score, 22-22, on a kill from Haley Unverdorben, only to see the Hawks' Staecia Silofau slam home three straight kills to put Hartwick up, 2-0.
 
The third set, however, would prove to be the day's most eventful.  After the Hawks jumped out to a 16-13 lead, Houghton stormed back to pull ahead, 18-16. 
 
Hartwick responded with five straight points to regain the lead, 21-18.  Houghton again responded, tying the score at 21-21.  Hartwick eventually gained match point, 24-22, on a kill by Colette Maloney, but Houghton refused to roll over, reeling off the next four points on a kill from Unverdorben, two kills from Julie Immel, and a Hartwick attack error to pull within a game, 2-1. 
 
While the Highlanders would continue to battle throughout the third set, leading at one point, 7-6, the remainder of the match, thereafter, would belong to the Hawks, as they pulled away for a 25-16 win in the deciding set.
 
GAME VITALS
Score: Houghton – 3 | Hartwick – 10
Records: Houghton:  3-9 (1-1 Empire 8) | Hartwick: 9-3 (2-0 Empire 8)
Scores: 22-25, 22-25, 26-24, 16-25
Venue: Lambros Arena, Hartwick College| Attendance: 100

NOTABLE STATS
>> Immel recorded a season-high 16 kills for the Highlanders, while Ella Smith (10 kills), Naprawa (nine kills), and Emma Cole (seven kills) rounded out the Houghton attack.
 
>> Haley Unverdorben came within a dig of her second double-double in as many days, collected 35 assists and nine digs.  Rebekah Clark led the Highladers with a season-high 18 digs, the seventh time this season she has reached double-digits.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"While we never stopped fighting, we didn't capitalize on opportunities that were in our hands and we gave too many opportunities to a worthy opponent.
 
"Julie Immel led our offense with 16 kills, while Katie Naprawa, Emma Cole, and Ella Smith provided a balanced attack.
 
"Rebekah Clark demonstrated tremendous floor presence with 18 digs, and Haley Unverdorben once again positioned us for success with her innate wisdom in set selection and consistently critical leadership.
 
"[We'll] come home hungrier than ever from this weekend."
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders travel to Buffalo on Tuesday, September 27 for a non-conference matchup with the Hilbert Hawks at 7:00 p.m.  Houghton defeated the Hawks in straight sets earlier this month in the Nielsen Center.