HOUGHTON, NY – The Houghton Highlanders became the first team in the Empire 8 to earn a conference tournament berth, as they defeated the visiting Russell Sage Gators on Friday night, 3-1.
After trading the first two sets, the Gators led the crucial third set, 18-16, when the Highlanders got a kill from
Morgan Brace. The point cut the Sage lead to a single point and kick-started a four-point Highlanders' run.
Sage would tie the set, 20-20, but Houghton again reeled off three straight and never looked back, taking the set, 25-21.
In the fourth set, the two sides traded leads throughout, but the Gators gained the upper hand late, as a kill by Macey Salvione put Sage up, 23-22. But a service error put the ball back in the Highlanders hands, and back-to-back kills by
Ainslie Reimer and
Lilly Bentley sealed the win for Houghton.
GAME VITALS
Match Score: Houghton – 3 | Sage – 1
Records: Houghton: 9-9 (6-0 Empire 8) | Sage: 12-10 (2-4 Empire 8)
Set Scores: 25-17, 20-25, 25-21, 25-23
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 176
NOTABLE STATS
>> Bentley posted her sixth consecutive game with at least 10 kills, racking up 15 on the night. She has reached double-digit kills 12 times this season, and has tallied 15 in three of the last four matches.
>> Reimer and
Emma Cole collected 10 kills apiece, while Reimer added 10 digs and Cole four blocks. Reimer has reached double-digit digs in 16 or the Highlanders 18 matches this season, and has earned a double-double five times. She passed the 250 digs mark in the final set, and now has 253 on the season.
>>
Natalie Rivera notched 25 digs, the second-highest total of her career and the most in a four-set match.
>>
Ella Smith added 16 digs and
Logan Baer dished out a season-high 28 assists.
Morgan Brace tacked on 15 assists.
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. when they will host the Hartwick Hawks. Hartwick enters tomorrow's matchup with a 14-2 record. They have beaten the Highlanders each of the past three years.