Nazareth Only Winner on Wednesday

9/25/2013 9:08:00 PM

Nazareth 3, Utica 0
Nazareth defeated Utica in three sets in Wednesday's Empire 8 volleyball match.The scores were 25-20, 28-26, 25-16. The Golden Flyers had eight different players record kills led by juniors Maria Allocco and Kassandra Buseck The tandem amassed 10 kills apiece and only four total hitting errors to lead Nazareth's attack.

In addition to the 20 combined kills from Allocco and Buseck, the Golden Flyers received eight kills from junior Chelsea Beecher and seven kills from classmate Taylor Stabley. Sophomores Jennifer Hicks and Melissa Kline recorded five kills and three kills, respectively. Allocco and Beecher also tallied three service aces apiece. The Golden Flyers finished with an 8-4 advantage in aces.

Freshmen Maureen Thayer and Madi Wickens combined for 34 total assists to direct Nazareth's offense. Thayer finished with 20 assists, and Wickens had 14. The Golden Flyers recorded at least 13 kills in each set to take control of the match.

Defensively, Nazareth allowed Utica double-digit kills in only the second set. The Pioneers tallied 13 kills to push the set to a 28-26 score. The Golden Flyers held Utica to a total of 17 kills and forced nine total hitting errors in sets one and three. Thayer accumulated a team-high 13 digs, followed by Beecher who had nine digs. Hicks tallied four assisted blocks to thwart several Utica attempts.

Brandi Blaszak had a match-high 12 kills for the Pioneers. Lora Allen had 20 assists, and Briona Enny finished with a match-high 14 digs.


Keuka 3, Ithaca 2
The Ithaca College volleyball team (6-10) forced visiting Keuka (9-4) to five sets, but the Storm outlasted the Bombers, 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 25-20, 23-25, 15-12), Wednesday night at Ben Light Gymnasium.

With the win, Keuka snapped Ithaca's flawless record over the Storm in Ben Light Gymnasium. The Bombers own the all-time series record 9-4 and are now 4-1 against Keuka at home.

Junior Rylie Bean matched a career- and team-high 18 kills while hitting .239. She also paced the Bombers with 17 digs and three block assists. Freshmen Grace Chang (San Jose, Calif./Valley Christian) and Shaelynn Schmidt (Piney Point, Md./Patuxent) chipped in double-digit kills with 12 and 10. Junior Abbie Hutchinson (Pownal, Maine/Yarmouth) posted nine on 20 swings. Freshman Molly Brown (Closter, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan) set for 38 assists and dug out 13 times. Hutchinson and rookie Siobhan Sorensen (Castleton, N.Y./Maple Hill) joined Bean with a trio of block assists each.


Cortland 3, St. John Fisher 0 
The St. John Fisher College volleyball program dropped a 3-0 decision (25-23, 25-14, 26-24) at SUNY Cortland on Wednesday night.

With the loss, Fisher falls to 10-8 on the year.

Megan Miller and Paige Willson each tallied nine kills in the match, while Rachael Kline added eight kills. Erica Stickler finished with 15 kills, while Ali Mann chipped in with 13 kills.   Erin Crandall tallied 11 digs.


D'Youville 3, Alfred 1
The Alfred University women’s volleyball team lost, 3-1, at D’Youville College Wednesday evening.

AU (2-11) lost by scores of 20-25, 22-25, 26-24 and 25-22. Senior Chelsea Hall had 17 kills, 15 digs and a block to lead the Saxons. Senior Paige Jensen had 11 kills, 17 digs and two service aces; junior Taylor Kiernan had 21 digs; and senior Janelle Gallipeau had 33 assists and 20 digs.

Roberts Wesleyan 3, Houghton 0
The Houghton Volleyball team lost in 3 games against Roberts Wesleyan College on Wednesday. However, the Highlanders didn't go down easily.

In the third set, the Highlanders were up 23-18. Roberts fought back to a 24-23 score, where both teams traded points until the end. The Highlanders had two game points, but couldn't put it away. 

In tonight's match, Hattie Burgher contributed with 11 kills and 14 digs, Hannah Compeau with 10 kills and 8 digs, Jaclyn Algier with 6 kills and 1 dig, and Alicia Needham  with 5 kills and 1 dig. 

Haverford 3, Stevens 2
The Stevens Institute of Technology women's volleyball team went the distance with Haverford College on Wednesday evening but fell in five sets for its second loss this season. Stevens is now 14-2 on the year, while Haverford improves to 9-4 overall.

The Ducks defense tallied 105 digs as a team in the five-set defeat, 19-25, 25-23, 20-25, 25-20, 15-12, and four players nearly reached the 20-dig plateau. Leading the way was junior Kirsten Salmins with 23 digs, while sophomore Catie Shelton recorded 18 more.

Senior Mary Caulson also reached 20-plus digs with 22 in the match and also registered 18 kills and a .295 hitting percentage. Freshman Mary Tobin paced Stevens with 20 kills on 60 swings to go along with 18 digs and three service aces.

Senior Samantha Gates controlled the offense with 50 assists and added 11 digs with two kills, while junior Katie Hall contributed 11 kills and hit at a .500 clip with three aces, three digs and three total blocks.

Freshman Christina Sciarra added seven kills and seven digs in the loss.

Stevens played well in its two set victories with 16 and 18 kills, respectively and hit .342 and .275 in those sets, but never hit above .174 in the three sets the Ducks lost. Stevens never trailed in the third set and held a 22-19 advantage in the second set, but were outscored, 6-1, the rest of the way.