Stevens Box |
Ithaca box |
Updated statsROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Host Nazareth dropped a pair of Empire 8 Conference women's volleyball matches to the league's top two teams. The Golden Flyers were swept by Stevens in a three-set match (25-19, 25-17, 25-21) and then were outlasted by second-place Ithaca in five sets (25-22, 20-25, 17-25, 25-10, 15-13).
In between, Stevens also defeated Ithaca in three sets to gain sole possession of first place in the league with a 5-0 conference record and an overall mark of 13-9. Nazareth dropped to 3-3 in the Empire 8 and 13-12 overall. Ithaca is 20-2 overall and 5-1 in conference matches.
Junior
Cady Messmer had a match-high 14 kills against the Bombers and senior
Jennifer Hicks and freshman
Carmen Sapp each had eight kills. Junior
Maureen Thayer had 37 assists and freshman setter
Olivia Krick amassed 18 digs.
The Golden Flyers appeared poised to pull off an upset of the Bombers after winning two of the first three sets. Ithaca came back to win the fourth set 25-10 and then edged Nazareth in the fifth set with the assistance of three Nazareth service errors.
Ithaca's Caroline Gerulskis had 13 kills and Joelle Goldstein and Kyle Dandrea each had 11.
Against Stevens, Nazareth led 14-13 in the first set, following a kill by
Brianna Spears. Stevens then rallied to score four straight points, including a pair of service aces by Brianna Evans, to take the lead for good. In the second set, Nazareth held a 10-9 lead before the Ducks pulled away on the strength of a 14-5 scoring spree. The Ducks then rallied from an early 6-2 deficit to win the third set.
Mary Tobin had 11 kills for Stevens and Evans added 10. Catie Shelton contributed 27 assists and Sydni Horner had 24 digs.
Sapp led Nazareth with eight kills and freshman
Celia Cordero and Hicks each had seven klills. Junior
Rachel Williamson had 16 assists.
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