ELMIRA, N.Y. - The Cortland women's volleyball team finished first at the four-team Elmira College Invitational with a 3-0 record after defeating Lycoming College in straight sets and Hunter College in five sets during Saturday's action. Cortland beat the Warriors 25-22, 27-25, 25-20, then let a two-set lead slip away before beating the Hawks 26-24, 25-19, 20-25, 18-25, 15-8.
The Red Dragons improved to 15-11 on the season with the wins. Hunter (16-10) went 2-1 on the weekend, while Lycoming was 1-2 and Elmira 0-3.
Courtney Silberer (Centereach) led Cortland versus Lycoming with 13 kills and a .370 attack percentage along with two blocks.
Valerie Fischer (Williston Park/Mineola) had nine kills, eight digs and two blocks, while
Amanda May (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) and
Nicole Silberer (Centereach) finished with six kills each.
Cortland finished with 13 aces, including four each by
Sarah Piacentini (Webster/Webster Schroeder) and
Samantha Czeczotka (Elwood/John H. Glenn). Piacentini also registered 33 assists, for an 11-per-set average, and eight digs, and
Alexandra Graff (Apex, NC) totaled a team-high 19 digs.
Lauren Fink led Lycoming (14-15) with 13 kills and 12 digs and Kristine Jahn had 11 kills.
The Silberer sisters led Cortland versus Hunter with a combined 26 kills - 15 by Courtney and 11 by Nicole. Courtney also led the team with seven blocks. Fischer ended with 10 kills and two blocks and Piacentini amassed 45 assists, nine digs and four blocks. In addition, May served three aces, Graff finished with 28 digs, and
Grace Staudt (Point Lookout/Kellenberg Memorial) added 10 digs.
Julia Connolly paced Hunter with a match-high 18 kills along with 17 digs. Taylor Kerr-Haiduk added 13 kills and Haley Trunkett finished with 28 digs. Breanna Banske handed out 48 assists.
Cortland posted a .250 attack percentage in the first set and a .321 attack percentage in the second set, but dropped off to hit only .125 in the third and .027 in the fourth. The Red Dragons, however, saved their best for last as they recorded eight kills and only one error on 15 attempts in the decisive fifth set for a .467 percentage, and Cortland finished the match with a .201 team attack percentage.
Cortland will host SUNYAC conference play next Friday and Saturday. Cortland will face Plattsburgh Friday at 7 p.m., Geneseo Saturday at 12:30 p.m., and New Paltz Saturday at 3 p.m. Other teams competing at Cortland next weekend are Oneonta and Buffalo State. Each of the six schools in attendance will play three matches as SUNYAC regular-season play concludes.
