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HOUGHTON, N.Y. -- Visiting Nazareth inched another step closer to clinching an Empire 8 Conference playoff berth in women's volleyball Wednesday as the Golden Flyers topped Houghton in four sets. Scores were 25-22, 25-27, 25-23, 25-20.

Behind 15 kills, 12 digs and three service aces from junior Madison Joseph, the Golden Flyers improved to 16-9 overall and 5-1 in conference action. Houghton is 11-15 overall and 2-4 in the E8. Nazareth can clinch a spot among the top four with a win in one of its two home matches Saturday. The Golden Flyers play Alfred at 11 a.m. and Utica at 4. Nazareth also has a non-conference home match against Keuka Friday at 7 p.m.

Sophomore Melissa Newcomb added 11 kills and junior Kelsey Milligan had eight. Freshman setter Jessica Barry had 35 assists and freshman libero Savannah Bothner had 23 digs.

Joseph and Newcomb each had three kills in the opening set, which Nazareth led by as much as 17-10 before Houghton rallied to tie it at 21-21. Nazareth regrouped after a timeout to take the set behind a kill by Newcomb and a service ace by Barry. In between, Houghton had a ball handling error and a service error.

After dropping a close second set, Nazareth overcame the Highlanders in sets three and four as Joseph contributed five kills in each. Nazareth trailed 14-10 in the third set before coming back to tie the set at 20, 21, 22 and finally at 23. Newcomb then contributed the next two kills -- one off an assist from Celia Cordero, the other off a set by Barry -- to take the pivotal set.

Nazareth fell behind again in the fourth set 17-14, but then scored nine straight points, mostly with Joseph serving, to take control. Newcomb and Carmen Sapp each had kills during the decisive scoring run and Joseph had two aces.

Nazareth hit .161 (51-24-168) as a team compared to .153 (47-24-150) for Houghton. Naomi Prentice, Erica Barney and Amber Edwards each had 11 kills for the Highlanders.