ERIE, PA – The Houghton Highlanders split a pair of matches on Saturday afternoon at the Penn State-Behrend Invitational Tournament, losing the opening match to the Thiel Tomcats, 1-3, before defeating the Geneva Golden Tornadoes, 3-1.
 
GAME VITALS

Game #1
Match Score: Houghton – 1 | Thiel – 3
Records: Houghton: 1-1 | Thiel: 4-2
Set Scores: 21-25, 25-18, 21-25, 16-25
Venue: Junker Center, Penn State-Behrend College | Attendance: 47

Recap:
The Tomcats improved to 4-2 on the season behind 18 kills from Daisy Janness.
 
After splitting the first two sets, Houghton held a slim, 21-20, lead late in the third set, only to see the Tomcats reel off five straight points to take the set.  Thiel would capitalize on the momentum, taking the fourth set as well to win the match.
 
The Tomcats took advantage of 16 Houghton service errors.
 
Alexa Belanger led the Highlanders with 12 kills and nine digs.
 
Game #2
Match Score: Houghton – 3 | Geneva – 1
Records: Houghton: 2-1| Geneva: 0-8
Set Scores: 26-24, 25-23, 17-25, 25-22 
Venue: Junker Center, Penn State-Behrend College | Attendance: 100
 
Recap:
The Highlanders rode their service game to a four-set victory, picking up 13 total aces, while committing only nine errors. 
 
While the Golden Tornadoes posted advantages in kills and digs, they struggled from behind the service line, committing 16 errors.
 
Emma Cole dominated the net, posting 12 kills and five blocks.
 
Houghton pulled out close victories in the first, second, and fourth sets.
 
NOTABLE STATS
>> Cole collected a team-best 20 kills and nine blocks on the day, while Alexa Belanger posted 17 kills, and Praylan Perkins added 28 digs.
 
>> Logan Baer dished out 33 assists, and Morgan Brace added 21.  Sierra Zinger tallied a team-high seven service aces.
 
UP NEXT
The Highlanders head to Buffalo State College on Tuesday, September 9 to take on the Bengals at 7:00 p.m.