Hartwick Box l Elmira Box l Updated Stats

ONEONTA, N.Y. – The Nazareth College volleyball squad earned a pair of Empire 8 victories on Saturday over Hartwick and Elmira to improve to 10-6 overall and 2-1 in conference play.  Nazareth opened with a 3-1 (25-17, 25-18, 24-26, 25-16) win over host Hartwick, before defeating Elmira in straight sets (25-20, 25-15, 27-25).

In game one, Nazareth broke open the set with four straight points – including a service ace from Brianna Spears, to take a 15-8 advantage. 

After splitting the second and third sets, Nazareth went on a commanding run late in the set wining six of seven points for a 22-12 advantage.  Cady Messmer sealed the win with a kill from Mallory Cobb.  Messmer finished with 14 kills and a team-high 15 digs.

Jennifer Hicks hit .455 en route to 13 kills, while Celia Cordero picked up nine kills and digs.  Maureen Thayer dished out 30 assists.

In game two, Nazareth hit an impressive .369 as a team. 

After cruising to wins in the first two sets the Golden Flyers were in for a more difficult third set.  Facing set point at 24-25, Nazareth rallied for three straight kills for the win, one from Hicks and two from Messmer.

Messmer ended with 11 kills, while Cordero poured in eight.  Freshman Carmen Sapp hit .545 with seven kills of her own and Thayer pitched in 24 assists.

Nazareth returns to action on Tuesday when it will travel to Buffalo State for a 7 p.m. contest.