HOUGHTON, NY – Alayna Tomlinson and Gloria Stem combined for 28 kills, as the Alfred State Pioneers defeated the Houghton highlanders in straight sets, 3-0.
 
The Pioneers jumped out to an early, 8-1, lead in the opening set and never looked back, taking the opener handily, 25-15.
 
Houghton appeared to regain their footing in the second set, leading early, and eventually building a 14-9 advantage.  But the Pioneers reeled off nine straight points to take an 18-14 lead.
 
The Highlanders stayed within striking distance, but Alfred State picked stayed the course to the end, picking up the second straight set, 25-20.
 
Down to their final set, Houghton refused to go gently into that good night, but the third set proved a game of streaks. 
 
First, Houghton peeled of eight straight to take a 9-3 lead.  Then, moments later, Alfred State battled back with seven-of-eight points to tie the game, 10-10.  From there, neither team scored more than three straight, as the game headed for the wire.
 
Tied, 24-24, a kill by Tomlinson gave the Pioneers match-point, but Houghton's Alexa Belanger quickly answered with a kill of her own to tie the set, 25-25.
 
But a Houghton attack error and a kill from Stem sealed the win for Alfred State.
 
GAME VITALS
Match Score: Houghton – 0 | Alfred State – 3
Records: Houghton: 12-8 | Alfred State: 11-10
Set Scores: 15-25, 20-25, 25-27
Venue: The Nielsen Center, Houghton University | Attendance: 85

NOTABLE STATS
>> While the Pioneers posted 15 service errors, they also collected nine aces and a .218 attack percentage.  Houghton committed only four service errors, but also had only four aces and a .000 attack percentage, thanks to 22 attack errors.
 
>> Alexa Belanger stretched her double-digit kill streak to nine straight matches, picking up 11 on the day.
 
>> Praylan Perkins led the Highlanders with 15 digs, while Logan Baer tallied 18 assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center on Friday, when they will take on the SUNY Geneseo Knights at 7:00 p.m.