HOUGHTON, N.Y. – Cortland fought back after losing the first two sets to defeat host Houghton College, 3-2, during the opening day of the Houghton College Highlander Volleyball Invitational. Cortland fell 25-23 and 25-19 before rallying to win the last three sets, 25-20, 25-23 and 18-16.

The Red Dragons (15-17) won their fifth straight match. Cortland will face Utica at 11 a.m. and Alfred at 1 p.m. during the final day of the tournament Saturday.

Five Red Dragons finished with double-figure kill totals. Senior Mary Kelly (Guilderland) and freshman Janine Patora (Salt Point/Arlington) led the team with 15 kills each, followed by freshman Jessie Allen (Syracuse/West Genesee) with 11 kills and sophomore Samantha Czeczotka (Elwood/John H. Glenn) and junior Kayla Pollock (Massapequa) with 10 kills apiece. Cortland finished the match with 64 kills and a .150 attack percentage overall, including 13 kills and a .429 attack percentage in the fifth set.

Kelly hit at a .448 clip and Allen posted a .391 attack percentage, and they shared the team lead with five blocks each. Patora recorded 13 digs, Pollock totaled four blocks and five digs and Czeczotka had three digs and two aces.

Sophomore Liz Roberts (Island Park/West Hempstead) averaged nearly 11 assists per set (54 total) and added 13 digs and three blocks. Freshman Ashley Ruggiero (Smithtown/Smithtown East) led the Red Dragons with 24 digs and sophomore Melanie McGuirk (Lido Beach/Kellenberg) had 10 digs.

Houghton (15-11) was led by Hattie Burgher's 22 kills and .432 attack percentage. She also finished with 16 digs. Hannah Compeau had 16 kills and 14 digs and Anna Coryell tallied 45 assists.

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