SaxonTV YouTube Recap

ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University women's volleyball team split on Day One of the Saxon Volleyball Classic in the Terry S. Galanis Family Arena on Friday with a win over Hilbert College.
 
The Saxons (5-10, 0-0 Empire 8) took a three set win over the visiting Hawks in the opening match of the Classic. They next competed against Grove City College but fell in three.
 
"I was happy with how we controlled the service line against Hilbert in the opening match. I also really enjoyed Maija [Grinbergs] go out and perform today and I thought she did really well," Head Coach Dakota Pruiss said. "For tomorrow, we just have to clean up what we've been working on all week. For example, our ability to control the ball into certain locations. We're looking forward to making those changes and trying to get some wins."
 
Match One:
Alfred University – 3 | Hilbert College – 0
AU Set Scores: (25-21, 25-21, 25-18)
 
The Saxons were led by the 16.0 points from Amber Smith (Penfield, NY/Webster Schroeder) as she hit a .375 in the opening match for 12 kills and tacked on four aces. She recorded six digs and added one set assist. Rylee Russin (Broomfield, CO/Broomfield) followed with 8.5 points from four kills, three aces, one block solo and one block assist.
 
AU totaled 20 aces against Hilbert with four coming from Smith, Amanda Burns (Pine Bush, NY/Pine Bush), Sarah Huzyk (North Chili, NY/Churchville-Chili) and Sarah Baty (Portola, CA/Portola).
 
Baty led the Saxons in set assists with 12.
 
Hilbert managed to build a 14-9 lead early in the first set before Alfred 9-2 run to take a 19-16 lead. The Hawks responded to tie the set with a 5-2 run to make it 21-21 before the Saxons had a kill from Meg Maddalena (Portola, CA/Portola) (Baty assist) and three aces from Burns to close out the set.
 
AU built a strong, 8-3 lead to begin the second set before Hilbert scored six, unanswered points to make it a 9-8 advantage for the Hawks. From there on, it was back-and-forth until AU tied it, 14-14 and added another nine points and only gave up four to make it a 23-18 lead. Hilbert battled with a 3-1 run but a kill from Kayle Hatfield (Descanso, CA/Granite Hills) off a blocking error sealed the second set.
 
In the third set, the Saxons built a strong, 20-11 lead before Hilbert fought back to add seven more points before the Saxons closed the set, 25-18 and claimed the match.
 
Match Two:
Alfred University – 0 | Grove City College – 3
AU Set Scores: (13-25, 19-25, 24-26)
 
Smith had double-digit scoring as she recorded a double-double in the match with 13 kills and 13 digs. She tacked on three block assists for the remaining 1.5 points of her 14.5 total. Huzyk also recorded 13 digs to tie Smith for the team lead while Burns led in set assists with 21.
 
The third set saw Alfred's top chance of claiming a set from the Wolverines as they led, 24-21 before Grove City recorded four, unanswered points to claim the match.
 
The Saxons will next host SUNY Potsdam at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 21 before hosting Lebanon Valley College in the Classic's final match at 3 p.m.