Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Oneonta box l Union box l Tournament site
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Nazareth's women's volleyball team dropped its first set then rallied to win the next three sets in both of its matches Saturday at the Union Invitational. The Golden Flyers defeated Oneonta in four sets by the scores of 23-25, 25-16, 25-16, 25-13, then Nazareth defeated host Union in four sets by the scores of 21-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-21. Seniors Kassandra Buseck and Maria Allocco received All-Tournament Team honors.

Following the victories the Golden Flyers improve to 8-4 overall. Oneonta slips to 10-3 overall with the loss while Union slides to 9-3 overall.

Oneonta edged Nazareth in the opening set by two points thanks to 11 kills and nine Nazareth hitting errors. The Red Dragons recorded their 11 kills on five errors for a .182 hitting percentage. With their nine errors, the Golden Flyers finished with a .079 hitting percentage in the opening set.

After the first set, Nazareth rebounded to allow Oneonta only 16 points in the second set, 16 points in the third set, and 13 points in the fourth set. The Golden Flyers had hitting percentages of .036, .393, and .550 in the second, third, and fourth sets, respectively. Nazareth held the Red Dragons to hitting percentages of -.152, -.037, and .269.

The Golden Flyers' offensive attack was led by a trio of seniors. Allocco had 12 kills, Buseck tallied 11 kills, and Olivia Harrigan recorded seven kills. Sophomore Cady Messmer and freshman Abigail Shields added five kills and four kills, respectively. Sophomore Madi Wickens tallied a match-high 26 assists. Wickens and sophomore Maureen Thayer provided Nazareth with an advantage in serving. Wickens had four aces and Thayer recorded three. Buseck and classmate Katherine Race also tallied multiple aces with two aces apiece. The Golden Flyers had a 13-5 advantage in the category.

Defensively, Thayer amassed a team-high 16 digs. Buseck finished with 12 digs and Wickens contributed 11 digs. Allocco had a solo block and an assisted block. Shields and Buseck each had a pair of assisted blocks.

Against Union, Allocco finished with a match-high 18 kills, while Buseck and junior Jennifer Hicks amassed 15 kills apiece. Harrigan tallied an additional 10 kills, and Messmer recorded five more kills. Similar to its match against Oneonta, Wickens was Nazareth's primary setter, and she accumulated a match-high 42 assists. Sophomore Rachel Williamson was also effective directing the Golden Flyers' attack as she finished with 13 assists. Nazareth's attack recorded hitting percentages of .143, .268, .389, and .244.

Defensively, Thayer amassed a match-high 24 digs, and Harrigan also finished in double-digits in the category with 12 digs. At the net, Hicks had one solo and a pair of assisted blocks, Allocco had three assisted blocks, and Wickens had two assisted blocks. Harrigan and sophomore Brianna Spears also chipped in one assisted block apiece. Nazareth's defense held Union to hitting percentages of .054, .152, .129, and .207.

Nazareth is in action again on Thursday, September 18th when the Golden Flyers travel to Fredonia for a non-conference match.