MEADVILLE, PA—The Houghton Highlanders dropped a pair of non-conference contests on Saturday afternoon, falling to the Westminster Titans, 3-1, before losing the second match of the day to the host Allegheny Gators, 3-0.
 
GAME VITALS

Game #1
Score: Houghton – 1 | Westminster – 3
Records: Houghton: 2-5 | Westminster: 7-3
Scores:  19-25, 17-25, 26-24, 13-25
Venue: David V. Wise Center, Allegheny College | Attendance: 45
 
Recap:
After losing the first two sets, the Highlanders battled the Titans down to the wire in the third set, but still faced match-point, 24-23.  But a kill by Alexa Belanger, a service ace from Ainslie Reimer, and a kill from Katie Naprawa forced a fourth set.
 
Westminster would respond in full-force, dominating the final set, 25-13, reeling off two runs of seven points each.
 
Game #2
Score: Houghton – 0 | Allegheny – 3
Records: Houghton: 2-6 | Allegheny: 9-3
Scores: 17-25, 19-25, 20-25
Venue: David V. Wise Center, Allegheny College | Attendance: 147

Recap:
The Gators posted 15 service aces and 41 kills in route to a three-set victory over the Highlanders.  While Houghton's game grew progressively stronger throughout, they struggled to muster a viable attack all day, collecting only 17 total kills and a .023 attack percentage.

NOTABLE STATS
>> In the opening match against Westminster, Lilly Bentley collected 14 kills without a single attack error, posting a .519 attack percentage.
 
>> Reimer picked up 11 kills and a team-high 25 digs on the day.
 
>> Logan Baer dished out a team-best 28 assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return home to the friendly confines of the Nielsen Center for their home opener against the Hilbert Hawks on Tuesday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m.  The Highlander defeated the Hawks in the season-opener on September 3^rd, in Hamburg, NY, 3-1.