CANTON, N.Y. – The Plattsburgh State women's volleyball team fell, 3-1 (20-25, 27-25, 25-23, 25-23), to Elmira College on the first day of the Canton Classic Friday evening at St. Lawrence University's Ronald T. Burkman Gymnasium.
 
Despite the loss, the Cardinals held the upper hand over the Soaring Eagles in hitting percentage (.157-.140), service aces (11-8) and blocks (8-2).
 
Plattsburgh State drops to 5-11 overall with the loss and wraps up the event tomorrow with matches against Cazenovia College (11 a.m., at St. Lawrence) and Wells College (1 p.m., at SUNY Canton). Elmira rises to 9-6 overall with the win and closes out the competition tomorrow with matches at Canton (11 a.m.) and St. Lawrence (3 p.m.).
 
Freshman middle hitter/right side Michelle Simmons (Riverside, Calif./Riverside Poly) led the Cardinals with 10 kills and six block assists, while sophomore outside hitter/right side Hunter Grotjohn (Scottsdale, Ariz./Horizon) posted a solid stat line of nine kills, 10 digs and four service aces. Sophomore right side/setter Brianna Coon (Plattsburgh, N.Y./Plattsburgh) helped pace the offense with 27 assists and completed the double-double—the first of her career—with a career-high 11 digs. Sophomore libero Bryanne Yasui (Honolulu, Hawaii/Moanalua) had a team-high 18 digs, while senior right side Lexi Pascal (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley) added 11 digs.
 
For Elmira, junior outside hitter/right side Tiara John and junior outside hitter Natalie Schieder each had double-doubles. John floored 18 kills and added 17 digs, while Schieder terminated 15 kills and chipped in which 21 digs. Freshman outside hitter Lauren Smith also reached double figures in kills (10), while junior libero Kasey Campbell defended a match-high 27 digs. Junior setter Taylor Kaznowski dished out 48 assists.