Hoboken, NJ- The Sage Colleges' women's volleyball made the trip to New Jersey to face Nazareth College and Stevens Institute of Technology in a pair of Empire 8 matches on Saturday. Sage dropped a 3-1 (22-25, 25-17, 25-23, 25-15) decision to Nazareth, before falling to Stevens, 3-0, 25-13, 25-12, 25-9. The day was Senior Day at Stevens and the Ducks also recognized the two Sage seniors prior to the matches.
Against Nazareth the Gators took the first set 25-22, but dropped the next three in a tight match. Leading the way for Sage was sophomore middle hitter Miranda Nethaway (Fonda, NY/Fonda Fultonville) as she racked up nine kills. Junior setter Brittany Orminski (Galway, NY/Galway) added 13 setting assists with 10 digs, two block assists with a pair of aces and a kill.
Rookie outside hitter Gabby Rowell (Morrisonville, NY/Beekmantown) tallied six kills for the Gators with seven digs. Junior outside hitter Amelia Taylor (Fort Edward, NY/Fort Edward) added five kills, while senior Alyssa Nellis (Johnstown, NY/Johnstown) also picked up a 11 setting assists to go with her three kills, two aces, four digs, and three block assists. Senior libero Missy Schneiderman (Middletown, NY/Minisink Valley) led the team with her 19 digs and posted an impressive .920 reception percentage, having made just two errors in 23 reception attempts. She also had one ace in the action.
Against Stevens, sophomore outside hitter Jessica Carrozzi (Warnerville, NY/Cobleskill-Richmondville) picked up four kills and added two digs. Nellis added five kills with a .417 attack percentage, while adding six setting assists and two digs. Orminski added five digs with five setting assists and one kills, while Schneiderman led the Gators with her eight digs.
The Gator seniors continue their march up the Sage women's volleyball record book. Nellis is currently 18th all-time with her 440 career kills, while ranking No. 6 now in career total blocks with 178. She moved ahead of Jessica Nelson (177, 2005-2007) on Saturday. Schneiderman has 1,310 career digs and currently fifth on the Sage dig list, while adding 122 career aces. She is now tied for 14 on the ace list with Sara Campolieta (122, 2013-2016).
The Gators return to play on October 12 hosting Utica College in a 7 p.m. Empire 8 match in Kahl Gym.