MEADVILLE, PA – After a disappointing straight-set loss to the Geneva Golden Tornadoes in the opening match of the day, the Houghton Highlanders turned the tables, defeating the  Waynesburg Yellowjackets, 3-0, in the nightcap.
 
GAME VITALS

Game #1:
Match Score: Houghton – 0 | Geneva – 3
Records: Houghton: 3-3 | Geneva: 1-10
Set Scores: 21-25, 19-25, 16-25
Venue: The David V. Wise Center, Allegheny College | Attendance: 67

Recap:
The Golden Tornadoes avenged a loss to the Highlanders from earlier in the season, picking up their first win in straight sets, 3-0.
 
While the Highlanders jumped out to an early lead in the opening set, the GTs clawed back, and eventually, took home the final five points of the set for a 25-21 win.
 
In the second, Houghton again jumped out to a commanding early lead, only to watch it slip away as Geneva took the second set, 25-19.
 
The GTs saved their best for last, winning the third set, 25-16, boasting a match-high 12 kills.
 
For the Highlanders, Alexa Belanger collected nine kills, while Emma Cole added five kills with only one attack error and five blocks, including four solo blocks.
 
Game #2:
Match Score: Houghton – 3 | Waynesburg – 0
Records: Houghton: 4-3 | Waynesburg: 1-9
Set Scores: 25-12, 25-22, 25-23
Venue: The David V. Wise Center, Allegheny College | Attendance: 55

Recap:
After the Highlanders breezed to a 25-12 first-set win, the Yellowjackets regained their footing, battling Houghton down to the wire in the second set.
 
With Houghton holding a two-set advantage, Waynesburg held a 20-16 advantage in the third set before the Highlanders reeled off nine of the final 12 points to pull off the straight-set victory.
 
Belanger turned in her best match of the season, earning her second double-double with 13 kills and 22 digs.
 
Emma Cole posted 11 kills without an attack error (.458) and 10 blocks, including six solo blocks.
 
NOTABLE STATS
>> Belanger finished her day with 22 kills and 24 digs, while Gaby Gracia added 22 digs.
 
>> Emma Cole collected 16 kills and 15 blocks, including 10 solo blocks, and was Houghton's sole representative on the All-Tournament team.  Her final block was the 150^th of her career.  She also now has 583 kills in her career.
 
COACH'S CORNER
"This tournament was good for our team. It gave us a lot of playing experience against different opponents.
 
"All three of our matches showed us areas where we are progressing and areas that we need to continue to work on. We will take our losses and use them as lessons moving forward.
 
"I thought our team did a great job driving the energy and setting the standard of play high in our last match of the weekend." – Head Coach Danielle Heffernen 
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders return to the Nielsen Center for their first home match of the season this upcoming Tuesday, September 16^th when they will host the Hilbert Hawks.  The Highlanders scratched out a season-opening win over the Hawks, in Hamburg, 3-2, on September 2^nd.