CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Nazareth split a pair of women's volleyball matches Saturday as the Golden Flyers completed the second day of competition at the Red Dragon Invitational at Cortland.
The Golden Flyers outlasted Arcadia in five sets (19-25, 25-20, 25-15, 19-25, 15-11) in the first match before dropping a four-setter to the host Red Dragons (25-15, 27-29, 25-15, 25-15). Combined with Friday's four-set victory over St. Lawrence, Nazareth completed its first weekend of action with a 2-1 overall record.
In the fifth and deciding set against Arcadia, Nazareth junior
Kaylee Kelly generated four of her 12 kills and freshman
Tessa Grover added two of her career-best 14 kills and the Golden Flyers prevailed. The set was tied at 7-7, before Nazareth rattled off three straight points, including kills by Grover and Kelly, to pull away.
In addition to her 14 kills, Grover had 16 assists, five service aces and four blocks. Junior Evan Lyko added eight kills and senior libero
McKenzie Hart amassed 38 digs -- one shy of her career best. Fifteen of her kills came in the second set and helped Nazareth square the match at one set apiece.
Grover had a strong match against Cortland as well in delivering a team-best 12 kills to go with 11 assists and 11 digs. Kelly added eight kills; freshman
Zoe Tylipakis had 17 assists and Hart had 18 digs. Four of Grover's kills came in the second set as Nazareth battled to a two-point win to even the match. Cortland, however, produced 23 kills over the final two sets to take the match.
Nazareth returns to action next weekend at the Brockport Invitational. Nazareth plays Ithaca Friday, the Thiel and Brockport on Saturday.
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