HOUGHTON, NY – Ainslie Reimer picked up her seventh double-double of the season, helping to lead the Houghton Highlanders past the visiting Russell Sage College Gators in straight sets on Friday night. 
 
The Highlanders built a commanding, 22-14, lead in the opening set and withstood a short Gators rally, winning, 25-20.
 
Sage carried momentum into the second set, scoring the first six points, and eventually leading, 10-4, before Houghton began to slowing claw their way back into contention.  The Gators, however, took advantage of multiple Houghton errors, eventually winning seven out of eight points to go up, 21-14. 
 
Kills by Julie Immel and Reimer kicked off a five-point run, and the Highlanders won nine of the next ten points to take a 23-22 lead.  After the Gators tied the game, a service error and a dramatic kill by Reimer sealed the second set for Houghton.
 
After a short-lived early advantage by the Gators in the third, the Highlanders dominated the rest of the set, at one point winning eight straight points, to bring home the match.
 
GAME VITALS
Match Score: Houghton – 3 | Sage – 0
Records: Houghton: 6-13 (2-5 Empire 8) | Sage: 6-16 (1-7 Empire 8)
Set Scores: 25-20, 25-23, 25-18
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 150

NOTABLE STATS
>> Reimer collected 15 kills and 12 digs.  Twice this year she has reached 15 or more total kills, but both of those accomplishments came in four and five set matches, respectively.  She currently leads the Highlanders in both kills (181) and digs (206).
 
>> Logan Baer dished out 11 assists, while Morgan Brace recorded her first career double-double with 15 assists and 11 digs.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. for their final Empire 8 matchup of the season against the Hartwick Hawks.