ALFRED, NY – After a slow start, the Houghton Highlanders stormed back to defeat the Alfred Saxons on their home court, 3-1, avenging last year's loss in Houghton and remaining unbeaten in Empire 8 conference play.
 
The Saxons offense clicked like a well-oiled machine in the opening set, pounding out 16 kills on a .303 attack percentage, in rout to a 25-17 victory.
 
But the Highlanders bounced back quickly, winning 12 of the final 13 points of the second set to even the match, 1-1. 
 
Houghton then won a nail-biter in the third, as the teams traded points throughout, only to see Houghton take a 24-22 lead on a Saxons' attack error, capped by an ace from Logan Baer.
 
In the final set, the Highlanders staved off a late Alfred comeback attempt, again winning, 25-22.
 
GAME VITALS
Match Score: Houghton – 3| Alfred – 1
Records: Houghton: 8-9 (5-0 Empire 8)| Alfred: 12-5 (5-1 Empire 8)
Set Scores: 17-25, 25-12, 25-22, 25-22
Venue: Terry S. Galanis Arena, Alfred University | Attendance: 212

NOTABLE STATS
>> While the Saxons racked up more kills than the Highlanders, 49-33, they also committed 23 more attack errors (38-15).  Houghton also dominated the net throughout, amassing 13 blocks to Alfred's two.
 
>> Lilly Bentley posted her fifth consecutive game with double-digit kills (12) on a .385 attack percentage.  The three-time Empire 8 Rookie of the Week leads the Highlanders with 178 kills on the season, and currently leads the conference in attack percentage (.358).
 
>> Only one of the Highlanders blocks came as a solo effort (Emma Cole), as Katie Naprawa (7), Emma Cole (5), Alexa Bellanger (5), and Ainslie Reimer (4) led the team in combo-blocks.
 
>> Ella Smith (15) and Reimer (12) led Houghton in digs, while Baer (15)and Morgan Brace (10) combined for 25 assists.  Smith has reached double-digit digs in a match 10 times this season, while Reimer has accomplished the feat in all but two of the Highlanders' matches, leading the team with 243 digs on the season.  She currently ranks sixth in the E8 in digs per set (3.80).
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center this weekend for a pair of Empire 8 matchups, Friday at 7:00 p.m. against the Russell Sage Gators, and Saturday at 1:00 p.m. against the Hartwick Hawks.