ROCHESTER, NY – The Alfred University women's volleyball team dropped two matches to Rochester Institute of Technology and Elmira College on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Saxons (2-19, 2-3 Empire 8) first fell to RIT in four sets with scores of 23-25, 21-25, 27-25 and 15-25. Then, in the nightcap, Alfred University was defeated by Elmira in three with scores of 19-25, 14-25 and 23-25.
 
Alfred University held a 23-21 advantage over RIT in the first set of the day after a kill from Elisabeth Estep (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads). The Tigers responded with four-unanswered points with the final three coming from kills to claim a 1-0 match lead. Then, once again, Alfred held an 18-16 lead in the second before RIT went on a 9-3 run with four, unanswered points in the final moments to go up, 2-0 before AU forced the fourth set with the extra points third set win.
 
The Saxons were led by Amber Smith (Penfield, NY/Webster Schroeder) who totaled 23.5 points on the day with 13.0 against RIT. She neared a double-double in that match as she had 12 kills and nine digs. Smith also claimed a solo block in the match. Against Elmira, she had nine kills, eight digs, one ace and one block assist.
 
Sarah Raeman (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) recorded 14.0 points on the day while Karina Morling (Canisteo, NY/Canisteo-Greenwood) posted 13.0 points. The majority of Raeman's points came in the morning match against the Tigers as she had 11.0 from nine kills (on 19 attempts with one error for a .421 hitting average), one solo block and two block assists. Morling had 8.0 points from six kills, one solo block and two block assists against RIT.
 
Lainey Arneson (Yorktown, VA/Tabb) led Alfred University at the net with seven blocks on the day. She had one solo block and three assisted against Elmira while assisting on three more against RIT. Sarah Huzyk (North Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili) led the team in digs with 14 in the morning matchup and another 11 in the nightcap. Amanda Burns (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush) had 49 set assists on the day with 29 occurring against the Tigers.
 
The Saxons will next face Elmira College again on Wednesday, October 17 at 6PM in Elmira for their official Empire 8 Conference match.