ELMIRA, NY – The Houghton Highlanders picked up their first conference win of the season on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Elmira Soaring Eagles, 3-1.
 
Trailing, 17-22, in the opener, the Highlanders reeled off eight straight points to pull off a stunning first set victory. 
 
The Highlanders trailed again, 21-20, late in the second set, before a double-block by Ainslie Reimer and Katie Naprawa propelled them to three straight points.  Julie Immel finished off the set with a resounding kill.
 
The third set was all Soaring Eagles, as Elmira scored the first 11 points and continued to dominate the set, winning, 25-9. 
 
Houghton bounced back in the fourth.  Trailing, 8-7, the Highlanders ripped off 10 straight points behind the serving of Nora Dugan, taking the final set, 25-17.
 
GAME VITALS
Match Score: Houghton – 3 | Elmira – 1
Records: Houghton: 5-11 (1-3 Empire 8) | Elmira: 7-13 (0-4 Empire 8)
Set Scores: 25-22, 25-23, 9-25, 25-17
Venue: Speidel Gymnasium, Elmira College | Attendance: 76

NOTABLE STATS
>> Immel looked to be back in prime form, racking up 10 kills, while committing only two attack errors.  Emma Cole notched eight kills and only two attack errors, posing a .429 attack percentage.
 
>> Ella Smith led the Highlanders with 19 digs, while Logan Baer dished out 30 assists.
 
>> Reimer collected 12 kills and 11 digs, her eighth consecutive game with double-digit kills and her fifth double-double of the season.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"This was an awesome win!  We served aggresively and kept them out of system, which allowed us to counter attack.

"Our hitters were hitting shots and seeing the court well today.  Logan [Baer] kept our hitters hot and it allowed us to keep our energy and momentum." - Head Coach Haley Unverdorben

UP NEXT
The Highlanders continue Empire 8 travel to Rochester to take on the St. John Fisher Cardinals at 7:00 p.m.