Box Score Box l Updated Stats

HOBOKEN, NJ – The Nazareth women's volleyball team overcame a slow start, downing Fisher 25-19, 25-16, 25-15 Saturday afternoon to advance to the Empire 8 Championship game on Sunday at 12 p.m. against top-seeded Stevens.   The Golden Flyers head back to the championship game for the first time since 2014 and will be looking for their first conference crown since 2013.  Top-seeded Stevens defeated No. 4 Alfred in straight sets in the first semifinal match.

With the win, Nazareth improves to 21-12 on the season with the win, while Fisher closes the season 22-9.

Nazareth got out to an extremely slow start, hindered by a poor serve receive, allowing Fisher to open up a 15-5 lead in the first set.

The Golden Flyers were able to settle in however, scoring 12-of-13 points, mounting a 17-16 lead.

With the score tied at 19 apiece Nazareth scored the next six points to finish off the big comeback and take the set 25-19.

Melissa Newcomb hit perfect 1.000 in the set, with three kills, while Carmen Sapp had four of her own.  Newcomb led Nazareth in the match with nine kills on a .571 attack percentage. Sapp finished with eight kills.

In the second set, Nazareth carried over some momentum with back-to-back aces from Celia Cordero putting the No. 2 seed ahead 8-3. 

Fisher was able to cut the deficit to 15-11, before Nazareth strung together four straight points, capped by a Savannah Bothner ace to put the set out of reach.
 
Nazareth opened a 5-2 lead in the final set, following Sapp's sixth kill of the match and the Golden Flyers never surrendered the lead after that. 

Jessica Barry had 27 assists in the win and 10 digs.

 Madison Joseph (.308) and Delaney Martin (.333) each had six kills.

Celia Cordero had four service aces, while Bothner had 16 digs.

The Golden Flyers hit .337 in the match with 39 kills on 83 attempts, with 11 errors.