Nazareth College : ATHLETICS

ELMIRA, N.Y. (Oct. 22, 2006) -- Nazareth completed a successful women's volleyball weekend Sunday by winning two more matches at the Empire 8 Conference Crossover Tournament, hosted by Elmira College.

The Golden Flyers improved to 5-2 in the Empire 8 and 14-18 overall with victories over Utica and Elmira. Nazareth defeated Utica in four games 30-19, 30-21, 27-30, 30-11 and then disposed of Elmira in three games 30-17, 30-20, 30-19. Combined with a win over Hartwick and a five-game loss to Ithaca from Saturday, the Golden Flyers completed the weekend by winning three of four conference matches, thus earning the third seed for the Empire 8 Tournament Nov. 4.

RIT is the top seed and host for the tournament, which offers an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament to the winner. The Tigers will play fourth-seeded St. John Fisher, while Nazareth and Ithaca will square off in the other semifinal. Times will be announced later.

Against Utica, senior Lori Parker (pictured) posted a career-high 12 kills and freshman Kate Zwickl totaled 34 assists and five service aces. Junior Elizabeth Tregan contributed 10 kills against just one hitting error for a percentage of .643.

Tregan had 11 kills in the Elmira match and sophomore Laura Persico delivered 13 kills and six digs. Freshman Carra Vanderstyne had 12 digs and junior Elyse Monje had 31 assists.

Nazareth won its opening match Saturday, defeating Hartwick in three games 30-25, 30-24, 30-26. In their second match, the Golden Flyers went five games with Ithaca before losing 20-30, 30-18, 29-31, 32-30, 15-11.

Persico excelled in the Hartwick match by posting team highs in kills (21) and digs (15). Monje contributed 20 assists and freshman Zwickl had 17 assists and 10 digs.

In a wild match against Ithaca, the Bombers escaped with a five-game win. Nazareth had four players reach double figures in kills, led by Tregan with 21. Persico and freshman Katelynn Reed each had 16 and Vanderstyne had 11. Monje amassed 53 assists.

Nazareth completes its regular-season schedule Wednesday with a non-conference match at the University of Rochester at 7 p.m.