MEADVILLE, PA – The Highlanders battled Allegheny through four sets on Saturday afternoon at the David V. Wise Center, but ultimately fell to the Gators, 3-1. Houghton was able to respond after dropping the opening two sets by taking the third set, but Allegheny closed out the match with a 25-23 fourth-set victory.
Recap:
The Highlanders opened the match with 20 points in each of the first two sets before finding their offensive rhythm in the third. Houghton recorded 15 kills in the second set and followed with 11 kills in the third, while limiting Allegheny to just eight kills and a .103 hitting percentage in the third set.
Houghton continued to battle in the fourth set, but Allegheny was able to maintain enough of an advantage to secure the 25-23 victory and take the match. The Highlanders finished the match with 51 kills and a .176 hitting percentage, while also recording 55 digs and 10 service aces.
GAME VITALS
Match Score: Houghton – 1 | Allegheny – 3
Records: Houghton: 3-6 (0-0 Empire 8) | Allegheny: 4-8 (0-0 PAC)
Set Scores: 20-25, 20-25, 25-20, 23-25
Venue: David V. Wise Center, Meadville, PA | Attendance: 150
NOTABLE STATS
>> Alexa Belanger led the Highlanders offensively with 20 kills on 41 attacks, finishing with a .293 hitting percentage. She also contributed 12 digs.
>> Viktoriia Lozynska recorded 11 kills on 18 attacks, hitting a team-best .500 while adding a solo block.
>> Morgan Brace recorded 45 assists, three service aces, and two blocks in the match.
>> Paige Brennan led Houghton with 14 digs, while Belanger and Praylan Perkins each recorded 12 digs.
>> Houghton recorded 10 service aces as a team, with Brace and Perkins each contributing three.
>> Petra Thomas contributed five kills and a team-high two solo blocks, while also recording a block assist.
UP NEXT
The Highlanders will have a chance to recoup from their road trip before heading to Alfred, NY to take on the Alfred State Pioneers for their second match-up of the season. The match will be a 7:00 PM start, as Houghton will look to even the series between the two squads for the season.
