Women's Volleyball | 9/10/2016 1:31:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Capital box | Oswego box | Updated stats | Tournament page
ROCHESTER, NY – The Nazareth women's volleyball squad picked up a pair of four-set victories Saturday to complete a 3-0 weekend and to run their overall record to 6-1.

The Golden Flyers, competing in their own Golden Flyer Invitational, sponsored by the Woodcliff Hotal and Spa, defeated Capital University of Ohio in four sets by scores of 25-22, 25-22, 21-25, 25-18.  The hosts then rallied to defeat Oswego in four sets by scores of 22-25, 28-26, 25-17, 25-18. Oswego dropped to 5-2 following a 2-1 weekend, while Capital finished 0-3 and is now 3-6.

Sophomore Kelsey Milligan earned tournament MVP honors for Nazareth as she delivered 11 kills and five blocks in the title match. Sophomore Carmen Sapp was named to the all-tournament team as she added 10 kills and five digs vs. Oswego.

After dropping the first set against the Lakers, Nazareth fell behind 17-10 in the second set and it was 24-21 Oswego following a Nazareth hitting error. The Golden Flyers rallied in dramatic fashion to take the last five points to win the set and change the match's momentum. Freshman Delaney Martin and senior Sarah mcMahon each recorded kills, then senior Rachel Williamson produced a service ace to tie the set at 24-24. Senior setter Maureen Thayer then dumped an attack attempt in for a kill and the set ended with an Oswego attacking error.

After winning the third set decisively, Nazareth had to rally again the fourth. The Golden Flyers trailed this time 5-0 before finally squaring the set at 8-8 and moving on from there. Nazareth had 15 kills in the fourth set, including three each from Martin and senior Cady Messmer.

Messmer also had 11 kills in the match overall and Martin had eight. Thayer totaled 41 assists and 13 digs. Sophomore Celia Cordero, appearing at libero, totaled 23 digs.

In a closely contested first set against Capital, Nazareth broke away by scoring six of the last nine points. 

Trailing 21-19 in the second set, Nazareth ripped off four straight points, including two kills from Sapp to take control. After falling in the third set, Nazareth cruised in the fourth and final set.

The Golden Flyers hit .228 in the match on 56 kills and 22 errors on 149 attempts.

Milligan and Sapp each had strong performances.  Milligan had 11 kills on 20 attempts (.350), while Sapp notched 10 kills on 22 attempts (.364). Freshman Melissa Newcomb recorded a career-high nine kills, while Martin notched seven. Thayer contributed 43 assists and 13 digs.

Nazareth returns to action next weekend at the Susquehanna Tournament in Pennsylvania.