Irving, TX – The Alfred University women's volleyball team dropped both of its first matches during the Saxon Nation trip to Texas on Friday.
 
The Saxons (4-7, 0-0 Empire 8) fell to Millsaps College and University of Dallas on Friday. Millsaps was a four-set match while the Saxons fell in three to U-Dallas.
 
"Today saw a lot of inconsistencies," Head Coach Dakota Pruiss said. "I was happy in the first set out Amanda [Burns] came in and set a great offense. I think both Sarah [Raeman] and Kayle [Hatfield] performed well in that match. Our focus is to be on resilient with what we are trying to physically change."
 
Match One:
Alfred University – 1 | Millsaps College – 3
AU Set Scores: (13-25, 13-25, 25-22, 16-25)
 
Amber Smith (Penfield, NY/Webster Schroeder) recorded a double-double in the match with 12 kills and 11 digs. She tacked on two aces for 14.0 points to lead the Saxons. Sarah Raeman (Canandaigua, NY/Canandaigua) also had 11.0 points, all from kills as she hit a .385 off of 26 attempts with only one error.
 
Darian Ortiz (Santa Fe, NM/St. Michael's) led AU with 13 digs as she posted 3.0 points from two aces and one kill. Amanda Burns (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush) was welcomed back to the court as she had 21 set assists with three digs and one ace.
 
Millsaps, after claiming the first and second sets, held a 19-13 lead in the third set. The Saxons went on a 12-3 run for the come-from-behind win before falling in the fourth set.
 
Match Two:
Alfred University – 0 | University of Dallas – 3
AU Set Scores: (19-25, 20-25, 13-25)
 
Smith recorded another double-double in the nightcap match as she had 14 kills and 10 digs. She upped her hitting average in comparison to the first match as she hit a .387 from 31 attacks and only two errors. Kayle Hatfield (Descanso, CA/Granite Hills) followed with 8.0 points as she had eight kills on 18 attacks with two errors for a .333 hitting average.
 
Sarah Huzyk (North Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili) also had 10 digs to tie Smith to lead the team. Julia Fanning (Wallkill, NY/Wallkill Senior) took over the setting needs of the team in the match as she had 21 set assists.
 
The Saxons will next take on Schreiner University and McMurry University to wrap up their Texas stay on Saturday, September 14 at 10a.m. and 2p.m. (EST).