BOXSCOREHOBOKEN, N.J. -- Nazareth's women's volleyball team defeated Cortland in four games Friday in the semifinals of the NCAA New York Regional and will play again Saturday for the regional championship at Stevens Institute of Technology.
Nazareth won by scores of 25-30, 30-25, 30-23, 32-30 and will play Satrurday at 7:30 p.m. against Empire 8 Conference rival Stevens. The top-seeded Ducks defeated Skidmore in the other regional semifinal, 30-22, 33-31, 30-27.
Nazareth improved its overall record to 28-11 as the Golden Flyers defeated Cortland for the third time in four meetings in 2007.
"We were a little dysfunctional in the first game," said Nazareth Coach Cal Wickens, "but we regrouped well and outworked them the last three games."
Junior outside hitter Laura Persico (Ravena, N.Y.) banged out a match-high 21 kills to go with 16 digs to pace the Golden Flyers. Sophomore middle hitter Katelynn Reed (Horseheads, N.Y.) contributed 14 kills, four service aces and six blocks and sophomore middle hitter Hillary Adam (LaFayette, N.Y.) had eight service aces, including one on the final point of the match.
Sophomore setter Kate Zwickl (Chester, N.Y.) had 52 assists and sophomore libero Mallorie Clary (Baltimore, Md.) had 21 digs.
After losing the first game, Nazareth controlled the second behind five kills from Persico and 12 assists from Zwickl. In game three, Persico had four more kills and Adam had four aces.
The fourth game was close throughout and was tied 12 times. Nazareth trailed 30-29, but closed out the match with kills from Elizabeth Tregan (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) and Reed an Adam's eighth ace of the match.