SaxonTV YouTube Recap

HOBOKEN, NJ – The #4 seeded Alfred University women's volleyball team was eliminated from the Empire 8 Conference Playoffs by #1 seeded Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon, 3-0.

The Saxons finished the season with an overall record of 7-21 and were 5-3 in Empire 8 action. On Saturday, they were defeated in a three-set sweep despite having a close, 20-25 first set. The second and third sets were 13-25 and 15-25, respectively.

"First and foremost, I want to congratulate Stevens on a great performance. I believe we defended them the way we wanted but they proved to be too tough to score on and played at a Championship level today," Head Coach Dakota Pruiss said. "I also want to acknowledge Amber [Smith] for her performance against the Ducks. She played at a top level that helped keep us in the match. Overall, I am disappointed with the result but not with the way we competed. This season has been a special one and I am thankful to have coached all of these athletes, including our lone senior, Ibby Estep. We wish her the best of luck in her next adventure and the impact she has made on our program will stay with us for as long as I get to coach this program."

After being down, 6-1 in the first set, Alfred University pushed back to take the lead, 11-10 with a 10-4 run highlighted by kills from Karina Morling (Canisteo, NY/Canisteo-Greenwood) and Amber Smith (Penfield, NY/Webster Schroeder) and aces from Elisabeth Estep (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) and Amanda Burns (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush).

Smith led the Saxons with a double-double in kills and digs. She posted 12 kills on 35 attacks with only four errors for a hitting percentage of .229 while also leading the team in digs with 13. She added a block assist for a team-high, 12.5 points. Estep followed in digs with 10 while Morling was second on the team in points and kills with 6.0 points all from kills.

Burns posted a team-best 17 set assists while Sarah Raeman (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) led the Saxons at the net with two block assists and one block solo. Both Burns and Mikala McCartney (Buffalo, NY/St. Mary's) led the Saxons with two service aces each out of the six on the day.

"I'm incredibly proud of being a part of this team and having watched it grow in the past four years," Estep said with Saturday's match being her last of her career at Alfred University. "I knew, while I was being recruited, that I was going to be a part of something big. It has been so fulfilling to be involved with this program and this great group of people. The coolest thing this season, with having made the playoffs last year, was it was expected to make playoffs this year and i'm so excited to have been a part of creating this legacy."

Saturday's match rounded out the second season in a row that the Saxons have been led at the helm by Coach Dak and the second season in a row that they've made November to play.