Elmira, N.Y. - The SUNY Poly women's volleyball team earned a 3–0 victory over Elmira College on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats took the opening set 25–19 before earning another 25–19 victory in the second set. Poly then closed out the match with a 25–19 victory in the third set.
SET ONE: SUNY Poly 25, Elmira 19
The Wildcats and Soaring Eagles battled through a tightly contested opening set, with neither team able to create much separation early. Elmira opened with a 4–2 advantage before Poly answered with a service ace from Grace Southwick and a kill from Mylee Magnanti to pull even at 4–4. The teams continued to trade points, with Eichorst adding another point and Mylee Magnanti contributing a kill as Poly remained within striking distance.Catherine McCourt & Southwick continued to make an impact as Poly pushed its lead to 12–7. Elmira answered to cut the deficit, but kills from Olivia Linart, Cruz and McCourt helped the Wildcats maintain their advantage.
Poly continued to hold off the Soaring Eagles as the set reached its later stages. After Elmira pulled within 15–11, Cruz and Grace Southwick helped the Wildcats extend their lead again. Poly eventually reached a 23–14 advantage before Elmira responded with a late push. The Wildcats remained composed, however, with Cruz registering a kill to reach set point. The Wildcats would close out the set with a 25–19 victory and a 1–0 match lead.
SET TWO: SUNY Poly 25, Elmira 19
The second set was another back-and-forth battle, with the teams trading points throughout the opening stages. Elmira took an early 3–1 lead before Poly responded behind a kill from Cruz and a service ace from Eichorst to tie the set at 3–3. The teams continued to exchange points, with Cruz and Southwick helping Poly stay within the tightly contested set.
The teams continued to trade points, with Poly and Elmira tied at 10–10 before the Wildcats began to create some separation. Eichorst and McCourt contributed points as Poly moved ahead 14–13, while a service ace from Cruz helped extend the Wildcats' lead to 17–14.
Elmira continued to battle and eventually pulled within 17–16, but Poly responded with another strong stretch. Aluisio recorded back-to-back service aces as the Wildcats pushed their advantage to 21–16. Elmira answered with three points to make it 22–19, but Poly closed the set with three straight points. Linart recorded a service ace before a kill from Cruz gave the Wildcats a 25–19 victory and a 2–0 match lead.
SET THREE: SUNY Poly 25, Elmira 11
The Wildcats came out strong in the third set, jumping out to an early 6–0 lead behind a kill and multiple attack errors from Elmira. Ella Eichorst and Olivia Linart helped Poly maintain its early advantage, while Daniella Aluisio and Catherine McCourt contributed kills as the Wildcats continued to build their lead. Poly eventually pushed its advantage to 15–6 before Elmira answered with consecutive points.
The Wildcats responded with another strong stretch, with Linart recording a service ace to help Poly maintain control. Four attack errors from the Soaring Eagles helped the Wildcats build a 22–14 advantage. Poly continued to close in on the match with Cruz finishing the set with a kill, giving the Wildcats a 25–11 victory and completing the 3–0 sweep.
UP NEXT:
The Wildcats return to action on Tuesday, October 6, when SUNY Poly hosts Utica University. Start time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
