KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — The Keuka College Women's Volleyball team bounced back from a second-set setback to defeat Alfred State 3-1 on Wednesday night inside the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center.
Nina Scott led the Wolves with 13 kills.
Gabby Rodriguez anchored the defense with a match-high 20 digs, while Alessandra Castañeda added eight kills and 13 digs.
Lilah Cousins led the Wolves with three total blocks, including two pivotal blocks late in the fourth set that helped the Green and Gold pull away and secure the match.
Keuka College 3, Alfred State 1 - 25-21, 17-25, 25-18, 25-20
The opening set was tightly contested early as the teams traded points through a 13-13 tie. The Wolves then took control with a 7-1 run.
Meaghan Knott started the surge with a service ace before Scott delivered three kills during the stretch. Keuka College (4-5, 0-0 Empire 8) also forced a series of attacking errors to open a 20-14 advantage. Alfred State answered with a late push, scoring seven of the next 11 points to cut the lead to 24-21, but Scott slammed home her sixth kill of the set to give the Wolves the opener, 25-21.
Alfred State responded in the second set, using an early run to build a 13-9 advantage. The Green and Gold battled throughout the frame as
Summer Elza sparked a late rally from the service line. The junior setter recorded a service ace and helped force back-to-back attacking errors to pull the Wolves within 23-17, but Alfred State finished off the set to even the match at one set apiece.
The Wolves quickly regained the momentum in the third set. Holding a narrow 6-5 lead, Keuka broke the match open with an 11-2 run. Castañeda ignited the stretch with consecutive service aces before Scott and
Gianna Falleti added key kills. During the run, the Wolves forced five attacking errors to build a commanding 17-8 advantage. Alfred State was never able to get closer than six points the rest of the set as Cousins delivered a late kill and Scott added another to help Keuka secure a 25-18 victory and a 2-1 lead in the match.
The fourth set featured another back-and-forth battle as neither team led by more than two points until late in the frame. Tied 16-16, the Wolves made their move. Falleti and Cousins teamed up for consecutive blocks before Scott recorded a kill to put Keuka ahead 19-17. Elza then took over from the service line, delivering back-to-back aces to stretch the lead to 22-18. Alfred State fought off one match point, but Scott capped the night with her 13th kill to send the Wolves to a 25-20 set victory and clinch the match.
KC Notes:
- The Wolves snapped a three-match losing streak against Alfred State
- Keuka College earned its first four-set victory over Alfred State in program history after entering the match 0-3 in previous four-set meeting
- Rodriguez recorded a team-high 20 digs and surpassed 900 career digs
- Elza and Knott shared the team lead with three service aces apiece
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves head on the road this weekend for the North Country Showdown, beginning Friday, Sept. 18, at 5 p.m. Their first stop is Canton, N.Y., where they will take on Hilbert College.
