ALBANY, N.Y. – With visiting Utica leading 14-13 in the decisive fifth set, Russell Sage College blocked the Pioneers' attack attempt to tie the stanza. Buoyed by the combo block from sophomore middle hitter Monalissa Carius (Hudson, NY/Hudson) (right) and sophomore right side Sydney Dohr (Chatham, NY/Chatham) (left), the Gators were able to pick up the 3-2 (16-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-21, 16-14) Empire 8 Conference victory tonight in the Kahl Gymnasium.
The comeback conference win was a team effort.
Senior outside hitter Emma Parkington (Dalton, MA/Wahconah Regional) established career-highs of 22 kills on .206 hitting and 22 digs. The co-captain, who registered the 16th double-double of her career tonight, was one of three RSC players to eclipse double-digit kills. Senior middle hitter Celia Gagnon (Troy, NY/Ichabod Crane) contributed 15 kills on .367 hitting and three aces, while junior outside hitter Sydney Shepard (Canajoharie, NY/Canajoharie) had ten.
Sophomore right side Statia Walker (Schodack, NY/Maple Hill) dished out 44 assists and elevated 13 Pioneer attacks for her eighth double-double of the fall.
Five Gators (5-14/1-2 E8) reached double figures in digs in the win. Junior defensive specialist Elaina Moisidis (Albany, NY/Albany), the conference leader in the stat, led the quintet with 33. Parkington (22) sophomore outside hitter Katherine Jepsen (Hudson, NY/Hudson) (15), Walker (13), and sophomore defensive specialist Rylie Gray (Bombay, NY/Salmon River Central) (12) were the others.
Looking ahead, both teams are in action on Friday night. Sage visits Keuka at 7:00 pm. Meanwhile, Utica hosts Elmira at 6:00 pm.
Notes: Parkington and Gagnon began the week among the E8 leaders in points per-set… Parkington ranked eighth with 3.05 points per-set, while Gagnon was ninth with 3.02 points per-set... Parkington recorded her 500th career kill on Saturday, September 11 at SUNY New Paltz…The co-captain, currently with 648 career kills, has 16 career double-doubles, six of which came this season…Moisidis, who registered her 500th career dig on Saturday, September 11 at SUNY New Paltz, tops the E8 with 360 digs…She ranks second in the conference with 4.80 digs per-set...The RSC libero currently has 737 digs in her time as a Gator…Walker has contributed eight double-doubles this fall.
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