HOUGHTON, NY – After dropping the first set, the Houghton Highlanders stormed back to win the next three sets in a row, earning their eighth straight victory as the downed the Utica Pioneers, 3-1.
 
Trailing, 1-0, the Highlanders put their stamp on the second set early, reeling off seven straight points early to take an 8-1 lead.  Houghton would later peel off six straight points, eventually taking the set in dominant fashion, 25-11. 
 
Houghton took an early lead in the third set, but Utica rallied, eventually pulling to within a point, 22-21, late.  Moments later, Emma Cole slammed home the game-winning kill, putting the Highlanders up, 2-1.
 
In the fourth, the Highlanders led throughout, eventually forcing match point, 24-17, on a service ace by Logan Baer.  The Pioneers, however, refused to quit, scoring five straight points to pull within two, 24-22, before Alexa Belanger put away the match-winning kill.
 
GAME VITALS
Match Score: Houghton – 3 | Utica – 1
Records: Houghton: 11-6 (5-0 Empire 8) | Utica: 8-14 (1-4 Empire 8)
Set Scores: 19-25, 25-11, 25-22, 25-22
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 100

NOTABLE STATS
>> Belanger picked up her seventh double-double of the season, logging 17 kills and 21 digs.  She has now collected double-digit kills in each of the Highlanders last six matches, and has accomplished the fete 10 times this season.  She collected 20-plus digs for the fourth time this year, and has reached double-digits 10 times.
 
>> Maryn Voortman posted 11 kills, while Logan Baer dished out 35 assists, her eighth consecutive game with at least 27 assists.
 
>> Natalie Rivera led the Highlanders in digs for the fourth consecutive game, picking up a career-high 41.  She has registered double-digit digs in each of her last six matches and nine times this year, and topped 30-plus digs for the third time.  With her efforts tonight, Rivera reached the 500-dig plateau.  She now has 539 for her career.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders head to Albany on Friday, October 17, where they will take on the Russell Sage Gators at 6:00 p.m.