Box Score WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Taryn Rumsey and Sasha Zavadska combined for 45 kills to carry the Elmira College women's volleyball team to a 25-23, 26-28, 25-20, 25-13 victory over host Eastern Connecticut State University Friday night in the opening round of the 32nd Annual Crabtree Classic at Francis E. Geissler Gymnasium.
After Elmira (15-10) and Eastern (12-12) split the first two sets, the Soaring Eagles took the lead for good early in the critical third set, finally scoring five of the final seven points to win their eight match in the last nine outings and snap Eastern's four-match winning streak.
Zavadska led all players with 25 kills and Rumsey had 20 kills and a .292 attack percentage. The Eagles picked up eight points on service aces, Melanie Pershyn collecting four and Francene Cicia three. Molly Short had 51 assists for the winners, with Rumsey also adding 18 digs and Short 15 to lead five players with at least 12.
Senior Katie Wilson (Pittsburg, CA) led Eastern with 15 kills and attacked at .371, but the rest of the team attacked at just .010. Junior Erynn Miller (Stratford) led the Warriors with 25 digs and commited only one error on 21 reception attempts.
Elmira closed out the match with an impressive display in the final set, with Zavadska picking up eight kills on 11 tries with only one error, Short amassing eight digs and 13 assists.
Eastern, the two-time defending tournament champion, faces Plymouth State University in a Little East Conference match in the first of its three matches Saturday. Elmira opens play Saturday by facing Salve Regina University at 10 a.m.
