Box Score

ELMIRA, NY – 'Wick's volleyball team fought back from a 2-1 hole to force a fifth and deciding game against Elmira in an Empire 8 Conference battle at EC's Speidel Gymnasium on Friday night. The Hawks were one point from the match in the fifth game, 14-13, but the host Soaring Eagles secured the final three points to survive, 3-2 (25-23, 10-25, 24-26, 25-20, 14-16).

The loss drops the Hawks to 4-14 overall and 1-3 in the Empire 8. Elmira improves to 13-7 and 2-1 in league play.

The Hawks took the early 1-0 lead after battling back from a first-game deficit. 'Wick trailed until deep in the game when it gained a 22-21 edge. EC got the next point and both teams traded service errors to push the game to 23-all. Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Strom (Kenmore, WA/Inglemoor) would then notch a kill and the Hawks closed out the game with an ace for the early 1-0 advantage.

Elmira would respond in the second game as it pulled away for a 25-10 win. The Soaring Eagles held just a 13-9 lead but rattled off the next 11 points en route to evening the match at one game apiece.

The third game went Elmira's way as the Soaring Eagles picked up the final two points after the two teams were deadlocked at 24-24.

The Soaring Eagles looked poised to win the match after they built a 20-15 lead in game number four. But the Hawks had other ideas as they rallied for the next 10 points to take the game, 25-20. Junior outside hitter Dana Martin (Chester, NY/Burke Catholic) had three kills in the Hawks' first four points of the surge.

In the deciding game, the Soaring Eagles would build leads of three points on three occasions with a pair of Martin kills keeping the Hawks close. The EC advantage swelled to four points, 9-5, before three straight 'Wick points cut the deficit to 9-8.

The Soaring Eagles gained an 11-8 edge before Hartwick again responded with the next three points to even the score at 11, forcing an Elmira timeout. Following the break, a Christina Vitale (Port Jefferson Station, NY/St. John the Baptist) ace made it 12-11 Hawks. EC got the point back but a service ace moved 'Wick to within two points of the win, 13-12.

Following a Hartwick defensive miscue, Martin's tenth kill of the match pushed Elmira to the brink, 14-13. The Soaring Eagle defense, however, would come up big as they did not allow another Hartwick kill, notching the final three points of the match to win, 3-2.

Martin recorded a double-double for Hartwick with a team-high 13 digs to go along with her 10 kills. She added two aces and two blocks.

Strom had a team-high 13 kills with seven digs. Hannah Armstrong (Lansing, NY/Lansing) also earned a double-double with 19 assists and 11 digs to go along with six kills and Quincy Kinzel (Scotia, NY/Guilderland) added 18 assists.

Vitale finished with 10 digs and Taylor Vonasek (Willington, CT/E.O. Smith) had a hand in five Hartwick blocks while contributing six kills.

Elmira was paced by Taryn Rumsey, who had 32 kills, 20 digs, and seven blocks. Catherine Miller picked up a match-high 32 digs and Sami Hanes dished out 48 assists.

Hartwick continues play at the Elmira crossover tomorrow against St. John Fisher beginning at 10 a.m. The Hawks wrap up against Alfred at 3 p.m.