ELMIRA, N.Y. (nazathletics.com) - Nazareth Women's Volleyball (0-20, 0-5) dropped an Empire 8 match at Elmira (3-19, 1-4), 3-0, Friday night inside Speidel Gymnasium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Elmira claimed the first set 25-19 after a tightly contested start. Nazareth recorded a 12-10 edge following a 5-0 run sparked by kills from Zipporah Sparkman and Liz Moran, but Elmira responded with its own 5-0 stretch to go up 15-12. The Soaring Eagles maintained their momentum down the stretch, using a late service ace and several Nazareth attack errors to close out the set.
- Nazareth opened the second set strong, taking a 7-3 lead behind solid serving from Jenna Mattison and key kills from Lorianna Mattutat. Three straight aces from Hailey Trank extended the advantage to 18-11, but Elmira stormed back with a 7-0 run to tie it at 20. The Soaring Eagles finished the set on top, 25-23.
- The Golden Flyers started strong in the third set with a 4-0 edge fueled by Trank's serving, but Elmira quickly came back to tie it at 6-6. The teams then traded points until Elmira went on a 5-0 run to take an 18-15 advantage. Kills from Sparkman and Mattutat helped Nazareth stay close, but Elmira's steady offense down the stretch secured a 25-21 win and the 3-0 match sweep.
MATCH NOTES
- The Golden Flyers recorded a season-best 12 service aces against the Soaring Eagles, the team's first double-digit effort from the service line this year.
- Zipporah Sparkman led Nazareth with a season-high eight kills at a .500 clip, her second performance with five or more kills this fall.
- Hailey Trank notched a season-best five service aces against Elmira, the most by a Golden Flyer in a match this season. The sophomore setter chipped in 14 assists for her third contest this fall with double-digit helpers.
- Madeline Saunders added 10 assists and a season-high three service aces vs. the Soaring Eagles, her five double-digit assist performance of the season.
- Chelsea Plummer chipped in a career-best 10 digs from the back row to lead Nazareth.
UP NEXT
Nazareth hosts Senior Day against Keuka, Saturday, Oct. 18. First serve is scheduled for 2 p.m. inside Kidera Gymnasium and on Empire 8 Network.
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