Box l Updated stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth defeated visiting Rochester in three sets in Wednesday's non-conference volleyball match at the Kidera Gymnasium. The scores of the match were 26-24, 25-21, 25-22. Junior Chelsea Beecher had a match-high 12 kills to lead the Golden Flyers.

With the victory, Nazareth improves to 16-6 overall. With the loss, the Yellowjackets fall to 7-17 overall. The Golden Flyers were missing freshman Madi Wickens while Rochester was without Savannah Benton, who entered the contest as the Yellowjackets' leader in kills.

In addition to the kills from Beecher, juniors Olivia Harrigan and Kassandra Buseck each tallied nine kills apiece. Classmate Maria Allocco recorded seven kills and zero hitting errors for a .538 attack percentage. Sophomore Jennifer Hicks also chipped in three kills. Freshman Maureen Thayer amassed a match-high 37 assists as Nazareth's primary setter. Allocco also finished with five service aces.

Defensively, freshman Cady Messmer had a team-high 12 digs. Allocco, Buseck, and Hicks each had one solo block. Harrigan and Alloco also had an assisted block. The Golden Flyers held Rochester to attack percentages of .179, .000, and .129 through the three sets.

Emma Gira had a team-high seven kills for Rochester. Xiaoyi Li had 18 assists, and Meghan Connor recorded a match-high 15 digs.

Midway through the first set, Nazareth had a pair of aces from Allocco and Buseck to rally and edge the Yellowjackets. The Golden Flyers finished with 13 kills and a .212 hitting percentage.

In the second set, the Nazareth extended its initial lead to 18-11. Rochester was able to pull within three points, 18-15, but Allocco ended the scoring run with a kill. Allocco had five kills during the set.

In the third set, the Golden Flyers spotted the Yellowjackets an early 6-2 lead. Nazareth tied the set, 8-8, with an ace by Messmer and a kill by Beecher. After taking an 11-10 lead on another kill by Beecher, Rochester used two blocks by Alexandra Goldman and a pair of aces from Jennie Ford to temporarily reclaim the lead, 14-13. After falling behind 17-15, Rochester committed two hitting errors. A solo block by Allocco gave Nazareth an 18-17 lead. The Golden Flyers maintained the lead through the remainder of the match.

Nazareth is in action again this weekend when the Golden Flyers travel to Cazenovia for four matches. Nazareth begins the tournament against New Jersey City University on Friday at 4 p.m.