UTICA, NY (nazathletics.com) - Nazareth Women's Volleyball (7-16, 4-6) earned a five-set win at Utica (9-17, 5-5), Friday evening inside the Clark Athletic Center. The victory marked the Golden Flyers' fourth straight win with one regular season game remaining.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Nazareth built an early 8-5 lead before Utica rallied to tie the score and briefly take the lead. Back-to-back service aces from Chelsea Plummer sparked a late run, while three consecutive kills from Leah Fusilli helped the Golden Flyers close out the set.
- After falling behind early, Nazareth rallied to take a 14-12 lead behind kills from Macy Quibell and a service ace from Alana Lucey. Utica responded with a run to regain the lead and even the match with a 25-22 win.
- Nazareth erased an early 3-0 deficit to tie the score at 3-3, but Utica answered with a five-point run to take control. The Golden Flyers battled back behind kills from Lucey and Fusilli but couldn't overcome the deficit.
- Nazareth jumped out to a 6-1 lead and continued to build its advantage with kills from Fusilli and Anna Malbone. Service aces from Plummer and Hailey Trank helped the Golden Flyers maintain control and force a deciding fifth set.
- After falling behind 9-4, Nazareth mounted a comeback behind kills from Sloane Bell and Plummer to tie the score at 11-11. With the score tied at 13-13, the Golden Flyers took the lead on a Plummer block before Fusilli delivered the match-winning kill.
GAME NOTES
- The Golden Flyers led Utica in blocks 11-7, the team's fifth game this fall with double-digit blocks. Nazareth leads the Empire 8 with 2.24 blocks per set in conference play and 1.80 blocks per set overall.
- Leah Fusilli led the Golden Flyers with a career-best 26 kills, her second straight match with 20 or more kills and third of the season. She added 11 digs to eclipse 1,000 for her career and to register her ninth double-double this fall.
- Alana Lucey added 11 kills and a team-best nine blocks, her eighth match with double-digit kills and fifth contest with five or more blocks this season. The junior ranks first (1.28) in conference play and second (.95) overall for blocks per set.
- Chelsea Plummer recorded a career-high 28 digs to lead the Golden Flyer back row, along with a personal-best six blocks and five service aces. The performance is the first of Plummer's career with 20 or more digs after she set her previous record of 13 in Nazareth's last contest against Oswego State.
- Hailey Trank and Anna Malbone contributed 25 and 22 assists, respectively, a career-best performance for Malbone.
- Macy Quibell chipped in 11 kills for Nazareth, the freshman's first career match with double-digit kills.
- Gretchen Klossner added 20 digs at libero, her second match with 20 or more digs this fall after she tallied 21 against SUNY Morrisville.
UP NEXT
Nazareth closes out the regular season at SUNY Poly tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 31. First serve is slated for 3:30 pm in Marcy, NY.
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