ROCHESTER, NY – The #1 seeded Nazareth Golden Flyers ended the #4 Houghton Highlanders season in the Empire 8 Championship semifinal on Thursday night in straight sets.
Only two weeks removed from taking the Golden Flyers to a full five-set match, the Highlanders never found an offensive rhythm, committing a total of 35 unforced errors in the loss.
After Nazareth took the first set without fanfare, the Highlanders bounced back in the second. Trailing 20-19 late in in the set, the Golden Flyers won the next two points to gain some cushion.
A kill by
Emma Cole gave the Highlanders a flicker, but Nazareth snuffed out the flame, winning the final three points on a kill and a pair of Houghton errors.
With the score knotted, 11-11, in the third, the Golden Flyers won five straight points, building enough momentum to roll through the remainder of the set to take the match.
GAME VITALS
Score: #4 Houghton – 0 | #1 Nazareth – 3
Records: #4 Houghton: 11-14| #1 Nazareth: 17-13
Scores: 11-25, 20-25, 17-25
Venue: Kidera Gymnasium, Nazareth University | Attendance: 481
NOTABLE STATS
>>
Lilly Bentley collected nine kills and two blocks, while
Alexa Belanger posted seven kills. In only her first collegiate season, Bentley led the Highlanders with 243 kills, and finished third on the team in blocks with 37. Earlier this week she was named an Empire 8 First Team selection. Belanger, also in her first collegiate season, finished fourth on the team with 164 kills.
>>
Ainslie Reimer finished with six kills and nine digs. She finished the season second on the team in kills (199) and first in digs (358). She posted nine double-doubles this season. Reimer earned Empire 8 Second Team honors.
>>
Ella Smith,
Natalie Rivera and
Katie Naprawa all concluded their careers on the Kidera Gymnasium floor. Over her four years Smith collected 347 kills, 149 aces, and 590 digs. Naprawa tallied 362 career kills, 93 blocks, and 163 digs. Rivera posted the best year of her career, notching 225 digs, giving her 314 for her career.
