ELMIRA, NY – Despite a pair of two-point games, the Hartwick volleyball team fell in straight sets (25-27, 27-29, 20-25) on Wednesday evening in their Empire 8 opener at Elmira. The Hawks drop to 7-5 (0-1 E8), while Elmira is now 4-9 (1-0 E8).
The two teams battled early on in the first set. After one Celia Gagnon (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane) and two Colette Maloney (Williston Park, NY/Mineola) kills in succession gave Hartwick a 7-6 lead, Elmira rattled off four in a row to go up 10-7. They extended the lead to 13-9, but 'Wick responded with six of the next seven points, including two kills from Dell Potts (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane) and two Katie Boak (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) aces, taking a 15-14 lead. With the score 17-16 in favor of the Hawks it was Elmira's chance to win six of seven points, thanks in part to two kills from Kaylene Sauschuck and a kill each by Kassi Hastings and Lydia Milligan. Hartwick did not quit at 23-19, winning three points, losing one, and then taking the next two on a Kaitlyn Ludder (West Sand Lake, NY/Averill Park) kill and another Boak ace, tying the set at 24. After a Gagnon kill later tied the game again at 25, Elmira put the set away with a Sauschuck kill and Amelia Martin ace.
The second set went even longer. Elmira had a 6-0 run when down 10-7, but 'Wick kept at it and eventually used a 5-0 run of their own (featuring kills by Gagnon, Ludder, and Potts and another Boak ace) to grab a 21-18 advantage. It was not to last, however, as the sides would find themselves tied at 24 again. After alternating points to get the score to 27-all, a pair of Hartwick errors gave the set to Elmira, 29-27.
There was less suspense in set three, although the Hawks led much of the way, including 14-9 after a Toria Betelak (North Syracuse, NY/Liverpool) kill. The Soaring Eagles immediately responded with a 7-0 run, with two kills from Lauren Smith and two aces by Savannah Terry along the way. After 'Wick fought back to tie the set at 16 on Maloney and Betelak kills, Elmira essentially put the match away with another 7-0 run. Smith had three of the seven points on kills. The Hawks won four of the next five points, but it was too little, too late, as another Smith kill ended the match after three sets.
Maloney, fresh off her second consecutive Empire 8 Rookie of the Week award, eked out her fifth career double-double with a match-high 11 kills and 10 digs, also contributing three blocks (one solo) and an ace. Gagnon was second on the team with eight kills and had three digs and an ace. Boak led all players at 17 digs and four aces, and Kayley Ericson (Franklin, CT/Norwich Free Academy) had 30 assists and 10 digs for her third straight double-double.
Sauschuck and Smith each had 10 kills for Elmira, and Hastings did the bulk of the setting with 38 assists. Smith had a double-double, tacking on 14 digs, just behind Milligan's 15 (and eight kills) for the team lead. Cassie Potter had 13 digs, as well.
Hartwick will try to right the ship on the road this Saturday, September 21 when they travel to Annandale-on-Hudson for a Bard tri-match. They take on Mount Saint Mary at 1 p.m. and the hosts at 3 p.m.
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