HOUGHTON, NY – The Houghton Highlanders walked away their own invitational tri-match with a split on Saturday, picking up their fourth win of the season over the Fredonia State Blue Devils, 3-2, before falling to the Alfred State Pioneers, 3-0.
 
Game #1:
The Highlanders pulled out the first two sets of the day by the narrowest of margins, 26-24 and 25-23 before the Blue Devils won the third set, 25-17, to stay alive. 
 
In the fourth set, the Highlanders built a comfortable lead, 14-9, before Fredonia stormed back, eventually reeling off five straight points to pull ahead, 17-16. 
 
After some back and forth, Houghton forced match point after a pair of kills by Ainslie Reimer and another by Katie Naprawa.  But a Highlanders service error tied the game, and Fredonia picked up the final two points to force the deciding fifth set.
 
The final set belonged entirely to the Highlanders, as they pounded out eight kills on a .467 attack percentage, finally defeating the Blue Devils, 15-4.
 
Game #2:
After the Pioneers jumped out to a commanding 23-17 advantage, Houghton clawed their way back into contention, pulling within a single point thanks to a kill by Emma Cole and three straight by Reimer.  But following an Alfred State timeout, the Pioneers pulled out the final two points to take the first set, 25-22.
 
Set number two proved equally as dramatic, as the Highlanders jumped out to an early lead, only to see the Pioneers pull ahead late, followed by another Houghton comeback to tie the game, 24-24, on a Logan Baer service ace. 
 
But once again Alfred State claimed the final two points, winning the set, 26-24, to take a 2-0 advantage. 
 
With the Pioneers leading, 8-6, in the third and final set, Alfred State kicked their game into high gear, outscoring the Highlanders, 17-8, over the remainder of the set.
 
GAME VITALS
Game #1:
Match Score: Houghton – 3 | Fredonia State – 2
Records: Houghton: 4-6 | Fredonia State: 2-11
Set Scores: 26-24, 25-23, 17-25, 25-27, 15-4
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 82

Game #2:
Match Score: Houghton – 0 | Alfred State – 3
Records: Houghton: 4-7 | Alfred State: 6-4
Set Scores: 22-25, 24-26, 14-25
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 75

NOTABLE STATS
>> Reimer picked up her second and third career double-doubles, posting 15 kills and 11 digs in the first match, and 10 kills and 11 digs in the second. 
 
>> Cole collected 15 total kills on the day, while Baer dished out 40 assists against Fredonia and 25 more against Alfred State. 
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center on Tuesday, September 26, when they will square off with the Buffalo State Bengals at 7:00 p.m.  Houghton will look to avenge a loss to Buffalo State from Friday, September 15, when the Bengals defeated the Highlanders in straight sets.