SKIDMORE BOXSCORE | LEBANON VALLEY BOXSCORE | CUMULATIVE STATS
CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Nazareth opened its women's volleyball season with a pair of victories Friday at the Red Dragons Invitational hosted by Cortland.
Nazareth rallied to defeat Skidmore in five games 27-30, 30-26, 28-30, 30-16, 15-7. Later on, in a match that ended at 11:30 p.m., the Golden Flyers outlasted Lebanon Valley in four games 33-35, 30-25, 30-15, 30-20. The two wins gave Nazareth the top spot in Pool D of the 12-team event and lifted the Golden Flyers into Saturday's championship pool. Nazareth plays host Cortland at 10 a.m.
Against Lebanon Valley, junior outside hitter Laura Persico pounded out a career-best 30 kills with just one hitting error in 47 attempts. Sophomore middle hitter Katelynn Reed added 16 kills, five aces and seven blocks and sophomore setter Kate Zwickl (pictured) had 53 assists. Sophomore newcomer Mallorie Clary had eight service aces.
Zwickl had 47 assists in the opening match against Skidmore to give her an even 100 for the two matches, while Reed delivered 17 kills. Natasha Villane had 24 digs.
2007 CORTLAND RED DRAGON WOMEN VOLLEYBALL CLASSIC
Friday-Saturday, August 31-September 1
Whitney T. Corey Gymnasium; SUNY Cortland; Cortland, NY
FRIDAY RESULTS:
Pool A
Cortland def. Buffalo St. 3-0 (30-7, 30-10, 30-20)
Cortland def. Baptist Bible College 3-0 (30-19, 30-17, 30-10)
Baptist Bible College def. Buffalo St. 3-0 (30-15, 30-18, 30-14)
Pool B
Fredonia def. Swarthmore 3-0 (30-23, 30-26, 30-21)
Stevens Institute def. Fredonia 3-2 (25-30, 25-30, 30-22, 30-21, 15-6)
Stevens Institute def. Swarthmore 3-1 (27-30, 30-18, 30-14, 30-20)
Pool C
New Paltz def. Montclair St. 3-1 (30-20, 29-31, 30-17, 32-30)
New Paltz def. Rochester 3-1 (30-18, 26-30, 30-28, 30-21)
Rochester def. Montclair St. 3-0 (30-20, 31-29, 30-25)
Pool D
Nazareth def. Skidmore 3-2 (27-30, 30-26, 28-30, 30-16, 15-7)
Lebanon Valley def. Skidmore 3-1 (20-30, 30-17, 30-14, 30-20)
Nazareth def. Lebanon Valley 3-1 (33-35, 30-25, 30-15, 30-20)
SATURDAY SCHEDULE:
Court 1 (Championship Pool)
10 a.m. (A1) Cortland vs. (D1) Nazareth
12 p.m. (B1) Stevens vs. (C1) New Paltz
2 p.m. A1/D1 loser vs. B1/C1 loser
4 p.m. A1/D1 winner vs. B1/C1 winner (championship match)
Court 2
10 a.m. (A2) Baptist Bible vs. (D2) Lebanon Valley
12 p.m. (B2) Fredonia vs. (C2) Rochester
2 p.m. A2/D2 loser vs. B2/C2 loser
4 p.m. A2/D2 winner vs. B2/C2 winner
Court 3
10 a.m. (A3) Buffalo St. vs. (D3) Skidmore
12 p.m. (B3) Swarthmore vs. (C3) Montclair St.
2 p.m. A3/D3 loser vs. B3/C3 loser
4 p.m. A3/D3 winner vs. B3/C3 winner
NOTES:
* The tournament features five NCAA Div. III tournament qualifiers from
last year (Cortland, Stevens, Nazareth, Skidmore and Baptist Bible).
* The final match on Friday (Nazareth vs. Lebanon Valley) ended 11:33 p.m.
* Cortland has won 15 of the previous 22 Red Dragon Classics, including the last four (2003-06). Nazareth won the title in both 2001 and 2002.