ONEONTA, NY – The Hartwick volleyball team breezed by Elmira in Friday's Senior Night match, taking down the Soaring Eagles in straight sets in Lambros Arena (25-13, 25-12, 25-13). The victory, coupled with St. John Fisher's defeat of Keuka, locks the Hawks in at the second seed in this year's Empire 8 Tournament. The second place finish in the standings is the program's highest ever. Hartwick moves to 16-2 on the season and 6-1 in conference, while Elmira is now 7-14 overall and 3-4 in Empire 8 play. They remain in the hunt for one of the final two spots in the five team tournament.
Before the match, the Hawks honored seniors Myla Dobson (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), Dell Potts (Niverville, NY/Ichabod Crane), Kiera Walsh (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake), Kayley Ericson (Franklin, CT/Norwich Free Academy), Danielle Sowalski (Albany, NY/Academy of the Holy Names), and Toria Betelak (North Syracuse, NY/Liverpool) for their numerous contributions to the program over the last four years.
And then they swept the Soaring Eagles out of Lambros Arena.
'Wick took a 7-1 lead in the first set, which Elmira would close to four a few times before the Hawks extended it out to eight at 17-9. The bleeding was paused momentarily by a Hartwick service error before seven consecutive 'Wick points all but put the set away at 24-10. Elmira scored three in a row preceding Colette Maloney's (Williston Park, NY/Mineola) set-ending kill.
After a closer beginning to set two, the Hawks again went to work, gradually turning their 6-5 lead into a 16-11 advantage. Six more points in a row sent the score to 22-11, and after one Elmira kill, three consecutive errors by the visitors gave Hartwick the two-set lead.
The Hawks raced out to a 6-1 lead in the third set, thanks in part to two service aces each from Kaileigh Brandow (Manorville, NY/Eastport South Manor) and Betelak. Elmira did close the gap somewhat, pulling to within two three times before the lead was lengthened back out to five at 13-8. A five-point run at 13-9 that included three Betelak kills essentially finished the Soaring Eagles off, and with a 20-13 lead 'Wick tallied the final five points for the sweep.
Betelak led a balanced attack for the Hawks with nine kills; Dobson had eight and Maloney and Staecia Silofau (Kapolei, HI/Maryknoll) picked up six apiece. Braelyn Hornick (Candor, NY/Candor) and Ericson split the evening's setting duties, with the latter claiming 18 assists and the former accumulating 12. Betelak led all comers with four aces, Brandow chipped in three, and Hornick had two. Dobson had the match high of four blocks with Silofau and Betelak coming in right behind her at three apiece.
The Hawks close out the regular season conference slate tomorrow with a trip to Alfred. First serve is set for 4 p.m.
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