Women's Volleyball | 9/2/2016 7:18:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Wells box | Coast Guard box | Tournament page | Tournament program
CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Nazareth got off to a good start in women's volleyball Friday as the Golden Flyers won a pair of matches at the annual Red Dragon Classic at Cortland State.

The Golden Flyers downed Wells in four sets by scores of 20-25, 25-11, 29-27, 25-14 and then swept Coast Guard Academy in three sets by scores of 25-23, 25-22, 25-21. The Golden Flyers lost to both Wells and Coast Guard in 2015. Nazareth plays two more matches Saturday -- Buffalo State at 11 a.m., followed by Stockton at 1:30 p.m.

Senior outside hitter Cady Messmer got off to a strong start by totaling 15 kills against Wells and 16 more against Coast Guard. Against Wells, she also contributed 16 digs and a pair of service aces. She had 12 digs against Coast Guard and three more aces.

Senior setter Maureen Thayer capably ran the offense as she amassed 36 assists against Wells and 29 more against Coast Guard. Against Wells, sophomore Kelsey Milligan added 11 kills and eight blocks, while freshmen Delaney Martin and Melissa Newcomb each had seven kills. Martin also had 19 digs and sophomore Celia Cordero had 16. Junior Lindsay Bynon also had 16 digs.

In a hard-fought match against Coast Guard, Nazareth again played well defensively with Cordero totaling a career-high 26 digs. Thayer had 10 more and freshman Danielle Synowski had eight. Cordero also had three service aces.