UTICA, NY – The Alfred University women's volleyball team clinched its second berth into the Empire 8 Championships with a pair of 3-1 wins over Hartwick College and Utica College on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Saxons (5-20, 5-3 Empire 8) defeated Hartwick College in the first match of the day after giving up the first set, 20-25 but then taking the next three, 25-23, 25-19 and 25-20. Then, in the later match, Utica claimed the second set but the Saxons held strong for the win with set scores of 25-21, 21-25, 25-22 and 25-21.
 
"I'm very proud that we accomplished our goal to qualify for the Empire 8 Championship Tournament today," Head Coach Dakota 'Dak' Pruiss said. "All year, we had 100% belief that we would achieve that goal and now our sights are on preparing for that. Rachael [Moravansky] stepped up today in amazing fashion when we needed her to play a new position. I also want to give credit to Amber [Smith] who again has put this team on her back. I am very proud of the way she played and the determination she has shown time and again."
 
The first and second sets against Hartwick were basic, back-and-forth scoring efforts from both teams. In the third set, Alfred University was down 14-13 and managed to put together a 12-5 run to claim the set and take the match lead, 2-1. The run was kill-plentiful as Amber Smith (Penfield, NY/Webster Schroeder) and Karina Morling (Canisteo, NY/Canisteo-Greenwood) each had three kills while Elisabeth Estep (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) posted one kill. Estep, Smith and Rachael Moravansky (Mount Airy, MD/Linganore) all had aces in that run as well.
 
The fourth set also was highlighted by a Saxon scoring spree. As the Saxons and Hawks were tied, 17-17, Alfred University went on a tear with a 8-3 run. Smith, Moravansky, Estep and Morling all registered a kill while Moravansky posted an ace.
 
In total, the Saxons were led by Smith's whopping 63 points as she recorded a double-double in both matches. First, against Hartwick, Smith had 28.0 points from 24 kills, three aces and two block assists. She hit double-digits in the dig column with a team-second 24 while she also chipped in a set assist. Smith broke her collegiate career-high in kills and points against the Pioneers with 30 kills that contributed to her 35.0 points. She tacked on the final 5.0 points with a new collegiate career-high four service aces and one solo block. Her second double-double was from her team-high 21 digs as she tied with Sarah Huzyk (North Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili).
 
Moravansky recorded career-highs herself as she (after switching positions as Coach Dak mentioned) recorded 15.0 points against the Pioneers off of 11 kills (only four errors on 23 attempts for a hitting percentage of .304) and a career-high four aces. She also set her career-high of digs with five. She totaled 23.0 points on the day, having scored 7.0 off of five kills and two aces against Hartwick.
 
Morling also broke a career-high with 15.0 points against Hartwick. She had 11 kills and three solo blocks while assisting on two. She totaled 18.0 points on the day.
 
Huzyk led Alfred with 50 digs as she got under a career-high 29 in the first match and 21 in the nightcap. Amanda Burns (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush) broke an Alfred University school record as she recorded 54 set assists in a four-set match. The previous record was held by Aubrey Totsline '18 with 49 against Maine Ft. Kent in 2016. Burns added 47 set assists against Hartwick College.
 
Having clinched a spot in the Empire 8 Tournament, the Saxons will next close out their regular season with a solo match at Keuka College on Thursday, October 25 at 7PM and a tri-match against Oswego State and SUNY Poly on Saturday, October 27 at 2:30PM and 4:30PM.