Elmira box | Hartwick box | Updated stats
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Senior middle blocker Maria Allocco had another dominating weekend for the Nazareth women's volleyball team. Allocco amassed 37 kills in a pair of Empire 8 Conference wins for the Golden Flyers, who remained unbeaten in conference play at 6-0. In Saturday's first match, Allocco and fellow seniors Kassandra Buseck and Olivia Harrigan combined for 42 kills in a four-set victory over Elmira. Scores were 25-17, 23-25, 25-18, 25-16. Allocco added a match-best 21 kills in Saturday's second match, a four-set triumph over Hartwick. Scores there were 25-16, 27-29, 25-18, 25-13.

After opening the season 0-4, Nazareth has won 14 of 15 matches to improve to 14-5 overall. Nazareth plays a non-conference match at the University of Rochester Wednesday before embarking on a road trip to California for four matches next weekend.

Ranked first nationally in hitting percentage heading into Saturday's matches, Allocco ripped off a match-high 16 kills against two hitting errors in 21 attempts for a .667 percentage against Elmira. She hit .586 in the Hartwick match (21-4-29) and improved her overall hitting percentage for the season to .482 (240-44-407).
She improved her overall hitting percentage on the season to .474 (219-40-378). Against Elmira, she added a pair of service aces.

Buseck also hit well against Elmira with 15 kills and just four errors in 26 attempts for a .423 percentage. Harrigan added 11 kills with three hitting errors in 31 attempts (.258). Sophomore setter Madi Wickens contributed 37 assists, while sophomore libero had Maureen Thayer had a match-high 20 digs with four service aces.

Buseck had five kills in the first set and Allocco added four as Nazareth pulled away. Elmira took a close second set as Nazareth committed nine hitting errors. The Golden Flyers were much more efficient in sets three and four as they combined to hit .455 (31-6-55) to seal the match. Nazareth scored the final six points of the fourth set with senior Katherine Race serving, including an ace on match point.

In the Hartwick match, Harrigan combined 11 kills with 17 digs and Wickens had 45 assists. After splitting the first two sets against the Hawks, the Golden Flyers dominated the third set with a .395 hitting percentage (17-2-38) as Allocco buried six kills and Harrigan five. Freshman Abigail Shields contributed three kills in the fourth set as Nazareth closed out the Hawks.