Box | Updated stats | Cross-over site
ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The Golden Flyers' women's volleyball team opened the first Empire 8 cross-over of the season with a four-set victory over Houghton on Friday. The scores of the match were 25-18, 25-21, 19-25, 25-17. The cross-over is being hosted by Hartwick.

With the victory, Nazareth improves to 12-3 overall. The Highlanders fall to 7-2 overall with the loss. The Golden Flyers' victory snapped Houghton's four-match win streak. The Highlanders are currently a provisional member of the Empire 8 conference.

Juniors Maria Allocco and Chelsea Beecher recorded 10 kills apiece to lead Nazareth's offensive attack. Classmate Kassandra Buseck, coming off her match-high 12-kill performance on Wednesday against Fredonia, finished with eight kills. Sophomore Melissa Kline added seven kills, and she also finished with a match-high three service aces.

Freshman Madi Wickens recorded 24 assists as the Golden Flyers' primary setter. Fellow freshman Maureen Thayer also had eight assists.

Defensively, Wickens and Thayer tallied 11 digs and seven digs, respectively. Junior Katherine Race and Kline each added six digs to thwart the Highlanders' attacks. Nazareth also denied Houghton at the net. The Golden Flyers had six players with multiple blocks. Allocco and sophomore Jennifer Hicks each had four assisted blocks. Wickens and Buseck finished with three assisted blocks apiece. Kline added two assisted blocks, and senior Christy Burczak had one solo block and one assisted block. Burczak's solo block was the only solo block of the match. Houghton's coach, Nancy Cole, acknowledged that the Highlanders "played tentative against a solid Naz team."

Meagan Palm finished with a match-high 11 kills for Houghton. Jaime Green had 33 assists and 13 digs. Laurel Wroblicky amassed an incredible match-high 40 digs to lead all players.

Nazareth looks to secure a pair of conference victories on Saturday when the Golden Flyers play Hartwick at 10 a.m. and Stevens at 3 p.m. Nazareth's match against Hartwick is available as a webcast and on livestats.