RIT box l Geneseo box l Tournament site
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Nazareth opened the Golden Flyer Invitational with a pair of non-conference victories on Friday. Nazareth defeated RIT in four sets by the scores of 28-26, 25-17, 20-25, 25-22 in its first match, then the Golden Flyers knocked off Geneseo in three sets by the scores of 25-18, 25-19, 25-22.

Friday's victories improved the Golden Flyers' record to 5-1 overall while the Tigers slipped to 3-2 overall with the loss. Geneseo stands at 3-3 overall following their two Friday matches.

In Nazareth's match against RIT, Junior Chelsea Beecher amassed a team-high 11 kills, 15 digs, and five service aces to lead the Golden Flyers to victory. Classmates Maria Allocco, Olivia Harrigan, and Kassandra Buseck added nine kills, eight kills, and six kills, respectively. Sophomore Jennifer Hicks and freshman Madi Wickens also chipped in three kills apiece. Wickens finished with a team-high 30 assists to direct Nazareth's attack.

Junior Katherine Race, Wickens, and Harrigan helped thwart the Tigers' attack as they combined for 27 digs. Harrigan also had five assisted blocks.

RIT received a match-high 20 kills from Sarah Szybist. Szybist finished with six attack errors on 57 total attempts. Emma Dowdy amassed a match-high 31 assists, and Bethany Davis tallied a match-high 19 digs. Amanda White also added a team-high three aces, a solo block, and three assisted blocks.

Against Geneseo, Allocco tallied a team-high 9 kills and Buseck had 10 kills. Wickens finished with 16 assists as Nazareth's primary setter while freshman Maureen Thayer recorded 11 assists and a team-high 12 digs. Beecher was a force behind the serving line as she amassed five additional aces against the Knights.

Lizzy Morton had nine kills and 11 digs to lead Geneseo. Tricia Baxley added seven kills. Erika Dannenfelser accumulated a match-high 29 assists.

Nazareth resumes its action in the Golden Flyer Invitational on Saturday with a 12 p.m. match against Hilbert.