ROCHESTER, NY – Despite a 26-24 third set win, the Hartwick volleyball team could not stave off elimination from playoff contention on Friday night, dropping their penultimate Empire 8 match to Nazareth, 3-1 (17-25, 25-27, 26-24, 15-25). The loss drops the Hawks to 13-9 overall and 3-3 in conference, while Nazareth clinches an Empire 8 Tournament spot with their fourth conference win, and now stand at 11-14 overall and 4-2 in the E8.
The Golden Flyers jumped out to a lead quickly in the first, leading 7-1 after Olivia Quick's second ace. Hartwick battled back, though, knotting it up at 7-7 thanks to six straight points, the last two of which came on kills by Maria Sorriento (Troy, NY/Troy). Nazareth gradually re-extended their lead out to 14-9, but again the Hawks stayed with it, tying it at 14-all. The hosts finally took control of the first set for good soon after, going on a 7-0 run for a 24-16 lead and finishing game one two points later.
The second set started out better for 'Wick, as they found themselves leading by three at 9-6. The Golden Flyers turned the tide, though, and quickly established a 13-11 advantage. The Hawks stayed with it, and eventually retook the a 16-15 lead after a Colette Maloney (Williston Park, NY/Mineola) kill, but gave it right back to Nazareth with three straight points. The teams continued to battle for point after point. Hartwick earned two set points, at 24-23 and 25-24, but gave up three consecutive points after the latter to put themselves in a 2-0 hole.
Multiple big comebacks allowed the Hawks to stave off elimination in the third set. They led at 5-4 and 11-10, but the home squad had the playoffs in their sight with an 18-14 lead. Hartwick rattled off four straight points, though, to re-tie the game. After another point for each side, it was the same song and dance for the conference rivals, as Nazareth took a four-point lead and 'Wick knotted it up at 23 with four points of their own. The Golden Flyers then grabbed a 24-23 lead, but the Hawks took the final three points for a set win, with the final one coming on a block by Maloney and Celia Gagnon (Kinderhook, NY/Ichabod Crane).
Nazareth set the tone of the final set from the start, leaping out to an 8-1 lead after Quick's second ace of the set. Hartwick closed the gap to four a couple times, including at 15-11 coming off of a Toria Betelak (North Syracuse, NY/Liverpool) kill, but four more Golden Flyer points followed. At 21-15, Nazareth secured the final four points to clamp down on the final playoff spot.
Betelak led the way for the Hawks with 14 kills on just 25 attempts, registering a .440 attack percentage. She also had three solo blocks and two block assists for a total of five, a match high. Maloney was the only other Hartwick player with double-digit kills, at 11. She had 12 digs as well, giving her a double-double. Katie Boak (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) had a match high in digs, at 24, as well as a pair of aces. Kayley Ericson (Franklin, CT/Norwich Free Academy) did the setting for 'Wick, with 38 assists to go with her 12 digs for her ninth double-double of the year.
Nazareth's Melissa Newcomb led all players with 17 kills, as well as four digs. Danielle Synowski had 14 kills and 15 digs for a double-double, and Delaney Martin had 15 kills and seven digs. McKenzie Hart led the Golden Flyers with 20 digs, Jessica Barry had a match-high 45 assists to go with her seven digs, and Quick had nine digs and a match-high five aces.
The Hawks round out their Empire 8 schedule tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m., taking on St. John Fisher on the road, who have clinched the top seed in the Empire 8 Tournament.
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