Box |
Updated stats
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Sophomores
Maria Allocco and
Kassandra Buseck each had 13 kills for fourth-seeded Nazareth Saturday as the Golden Flyers defeated top-seeded Elmira in a four-set Empire 8 Conference women's volleyball match. Nazareth won by scores of 25-22, 25-19, 16-25, 25-23 to advance to Sunday's conference championship match.
The Golden Flyers, now 21-14 overall after defeating the Soaring Eagles (21-12) for the second time this season, will play second-seeded Stevens Sunday at Elmira for the E8 title at 12 p.m. The Ducks swept Ithaca in three sets in the other E8 semifinal match. Nazareth will be seeking its second straight E8 title and a berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Nazareth dominated play Saturday as Allocco's 13 kills came against just one hitting error in 19 attempts for a .632 hitting percentage. Buseck had just four hitting errors in 24 attempts for a .375 hitting percentage. Senior
Aubrey Cooke amassed 44 assists and senior libero
Brittany Crocetti had 13 digs.
In the fourth and deciding set, Nazareth surged to a 21-16 lead, but Elmira rallied to tie the score at 23-23. Nazareth scored the last two points -- on an Elmira ball handling error and a kill by Allocco -- to clinch the match.
Nazareth also used a late surge to take the first set. The Golden Flyers trailed 19-17, but then got a block and a kill from Allocco, kills from Cooke and
Olivia Harrigan and an Elmira hitting error to go up 22-19. The match ended with a Nazareth service ace from
Chelsea Beecher and two Elmira service errors.
Nazareth was more in control in the second set as the Golden Flyers cruised to leads of 12-6 and 17-8 before settling on a seven-point win. Buseck closed out the set with three straight kills.
Beecher finished with eight kills overall, Harrigan seven and senior
Amy Johnson added six kills and three blocks.