Cortland Continues “Five-Set Friday” Success with Victory at William Smith

GENEVA, N.Y. – The Cortland women’s volleyball team opened the William Smith Heron Invitational with a five-set victory over the host school. The Red Dragons (8-2) rallied to win the last two sets and finished with a 21-25, 25-20, 20-25, 25-16, 15-9 win. 
 
Cortland is 4-0 in five-set matches this fall, and each of those wins has occurred on successive Friday nights (Sept. 1 vs. Rochester, Sept. 8 vs. Springfield and Sept 15 at Scranton, in addition to this victory). Cortland continued play at the Heron Invitational Saturday with matches against Stevens Institute at 11 a.m. and St. John Fisher at 4 p.m. 
 
Allie Sturgess (Stony Brook/Ward Melville) led Cortland with 12 kills. Giovanna Rossi (Nichols/Tioga Central) and Anna Pilkey (Ballston Spa) finished with 11 kills apiece and Alexa Guedez (Mamaroneck/Rye Neck) ended with 10 kills. Guedez committed only one error in 16 attempts to finish with a .562 attack percentage, and she led the Red Dragons with three blocks. Kira Pirrera (Hauppauge/Smithtown West) chipped in with eight kills. 
 
Mikenzie Martens (Carthage) led the team with 22 digs and four aces. Pilkey had 20 digs and two aces, Ryan Hinshaw (Aurora, IL/Joliet Catholic Academy) totaled 27 assists and two aces, and Meadow Wittman (Colden/Springville Griffith Institute) finished with 14 assists and four aces. 
 
Malya Sayre led William Smith (6-4) with 21 kills and four aces. Marin Montagne and Jaylynn McCarthy had eight kills apiece. Elaine Wamhoff handed out 39 assists and Maysie Malinaric totaled 18 digs. 
 
William Smith scored five straight points in the first…