ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University women's volleyball team played a competitive match against Empire 8 top-seed St. John Fisher University, coming up short by a score of 3-1 on Saturday.
 
After dropping the first two sets by scores of 20-25 and 22-25, the Saxons (12-17, 4-7 Empire 8) rallied to capture the third set, 25-21. The Cardinals (26-1, 11-0 Empire 8) then secured the match by taking the fourth set, 25-12.
 
Prior to the match, AUVB honored its four graduating seniors in a pregame ceremony. The Saxons recognized Jessica Lucille Ramirez (Riverside, CA/Hillcrest), Taylor Malone (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads), Delaney Sims (Bogart, GA/George Walton Academy) and Jade Wolfer (Nunda, NY/Keshequa).
 
Malone led the Saxons in scoring during her final time in Terry S. Galanis Family Arena. She tallied 11.5 points on 11 kills and a block assist. Malone also added six digs to her stat line. Carleigh Santavy (Commerce, MI/Walled Lake Northern) added 9.5 points on nine kills and one block assist while registering six digs. Julia Abbott (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton) posted 7.0 points on four kills and four blocks.
 
Sims tallied 26 assists and scored 5.5 points on two kills, four blocks and one service ace.

Madalynn McGowan (Corona, CA/Corona) posted a game-high 14 digs and 2.0 points on a kill and service ace.
 
Wolfer registered a career-high 10 digs and a service ace while Ramirez notched eight digs and two assists. 
 
During the third set, both teams battled through 12 ties and 12 lead changes. St. John Fisher University committed a service error before Santavy and Malone combined for six of AUVB's points to win the third set, 25-21.
 
"We played very well against a team that is receiving top 25 votes," Head Coach Mike Honeycutt said. "I am incredibly proud of our seniors. They showed out and have left their mark on this program. Many first happened in their careers for this team and them individually. We were the only team in the E8 to take a set off St. John Fisher University. While this chapter is closing for our seniors, they have another opportunity next weekend to keep making history."
 
The Saxons now prepare for the E8 Championship Tournament. AUVB will be the No. 8 seed and will face the No. 1 seed in St. John Fisher University once again. The match is set to take place at Manning & Napier Varsity Gym in Rochester, NY, on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 1:00 PM.