FREDONIA, NY –  The Houghton Highlanders dropped a pair of hard-fought matches at the SUNY Fredonia Tri-Match, losing first to Penn State-Behrend in a nearly identical rematch to the loss they suffered at the hands of the Lions three weeks ago, 3-1, before falling to the host Blue Devils in the second match, 3-0.
 
GAME VITALS

Game #1
Match Score: Houghton – 1 | Penn State-Behrend – 3
Records: Houghton: 3-8 | Penn State-Behrend: 5-13  
Set Scores: 24-26, 25-27, 25-21, 15-25
Venue: Dods Hall, SUNY Fredonia | Attendance: 30

Recap:
Three weeks ago, the Highlanders and Lions sent each of the first three sets to extra points, with the Lions winning the first and the third, and Houghton taking the second.  This time around, each of the first two sets went to extra points, but this time Behrend won both sets before the Highlanders took the third, 25-1. 
 
Once again, though, the Lions pulled away in the final set, defeating the Highlanders 25-15, and by a final score of 3-1.
 
Alexa Belanger collected 12 kills with only one attack error and a .500 attack percentage, while Lilly Bentley closely followed with 10 kills and a .533 attack percentage.  Ella Smith led the team with 11 digs, while Morgan Brace and Logan Baer dished out 18 assists apiece.
 
Game #2
Match Score: Houghton – 0 | Fredonia – 3
Records: Houghton: 3-9 | Fredonia: 7-11
Set Scores: 17-25, 20-25, 22-25
Venue: Dods Hall, SUNY Fredonia | Attendance: 50

Recap:
The Blue Devils racked up 44 kills and 49 digs in route to a three-set victory over the Highlanders. 
 
Houghton struggled to find an offensive rhythm, collecting only 23 total kills.  Katie Naprawa posted a team-high six kills, while Reimer had five kills without an attack error.  Emma Cole also notched three solo blocks.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders open Empire 8 conference play next Friday, October 4 in Keuka Park, where they will challenge the Keuka Wolves at 6:00 p.m.