CORTLAND, N.Y. – Freshman outside hitter
Janine Patora (Salt Point/Arlington) and freshman middle hitter
Jessie Allen (Syracuse/West Genesee) led a balanced offensive attack with eight and seven kills, respectively, as Cortland swept visiting Elmira, 25-13, 25-16, 25-12, in a non-league match. The Red Dragons, playing in their final home match of the season, improved to 14-17 with the victory.
Patora also finished with seven digs and two aces. Allen had only one error in eight attempts for a .750 attack percentage, and she also led the team with five blocks.
Senior middle hitter
Mary Kelly (Guilderland) and freshman middle hitter
Courtney Silberer (Centereach) ended with five kills in 12 attempts each. Silberer had no errors for a .417 attack percentage and Kelly had one error for a .333 attack percentage. Kelly, who was honored as Cortland's lone senior prior to the match, also registered three blocks.
Sophomore setter
Liz Roberts (Island Park/West Hempstead) had 27 assists, five digs and three blocks. Freshman libero
Ashley Ruggiero (Smithtown/Smithtown East) led the team with 11 digs and shared the team lead with two aces along with Patora and freshman outside hitter
Nicole Silberer (Centereach).
Also for the Red Dragons, sophomore defensive specialist
Melanie McGuirk (Lido Beach/Kellenberg Memorial) tallied nine digs, while junior outside hitter
Sydney Hayward (Trumansburg) and freshman middle hitter
Amanda May (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) added three kills apiece.
Paola Ortiz led Elmira (7-18) with five kills and Kelsey Ross added four kills. Sami Hanes dished out 16 assists and led the team with five digs.
Cortland used a 7-1 run in the opening set to turn a 6-6 tie into a 13-7 lead. Up 18-12, the Red Dragons finished the set on another 7-1 streak. Elmira led 5-2 in the second set before six straight points put Cortland ahead 8-5. Leading 11-9, Cortland rattled off five straight points and never looked back. The third set, like the first, was tied at 6-6, but the hosts recorded the next eight points on
Nicole Silberer's serve and cruised to the victory.
Cortland wraps up the regular season this Friday and Saturday with three matches at the Houghton Highlander Invitational. The Red Dragons face Houghton Friday at 6 p.m. and play Utica and Alfred Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cortland will open the SUNYAC Tournament on Friday, Nov. 7, versus Buffalo State in a 3 p.m. quarterfinal match at New Paltz.
