Albany, NY—The Sage Colleges' women's volleyball team hosted the Golden Flyers of Nazareth College in Kahl Gym in the Empire 8 opener for both teams. Down 2-0, the Gators fought back and forced a fifth and final set on Friday night, but fell, 3-2 to Nazareth (25-23, 28-26, 16-25, 19-25, 18-16). Nazareth improves to 7-5 overall and 1-0 in the E8, while Sage stands at 3-13 and 0-1 in the league.
Graduate player Miranda Nethaway (Fonda, NY/Fonda Fultonville) added 16.5 points for the Gators, while sophomore Emma Parkington (Dalton, MA/Wahconah Regional) connected for 15.0 points but it was not enough in the end. Nethaway added 16 kills with a .394 attack percentage with a pair of digs and a block assist, while Parkington had 15 kills with a .293 attack percentage. She was a perfect 19-0 in receptions in the match with 12 digs for a double-double.
Sage combined for 10 aces in the match as senior outside hitter Megan Ryder (Broadalbin, NY/Broadalbin Perth) and junior setter Courtney Formosa (Waterford, NY/Waterford-Halfmoon) each had five in the contest. Ryder had 23 digs with eight kills and was 21-0 on receptions as well for the Gators. Formosa added 29 setting assists with eight digs.
Rookie defensive specialist Elaina Moisidis (Albany, NY/Albany) led all players with her 29 digs and was 15-0 on reception attempts. Junior defensive specialist Ashley Hintz (Kingston, NY/Kingston) added nine digs as well for the Gators. Senior Gabby Rowell (Morrisonville, NY/Beekmantown) racked up four total blocks in the action.
Nazareth's junior setter Jessica Barry (Brewerton, NY/Cicero-North Syracuse) just missed an Empire 8 single-match mark as she had 65 setting assists on her 179 setting attempts. She finished with 10 digs and three kills. Senior middle back Melissa Newcomb (Syracuse, NY/Westhill) added 20.5 points for Nazareth after combining with her 20 kills and a .500 attack percentage with four digs and a block assist.
Senior Daniele Synowski (Fairport, NY/Fairport) added 16 kills, 11 digs and 16.5 points, while senior Delaney Martin (Syracuse, NY/Westhill) also had a double-double with 14 kills and 15 digs. Sophomore defensive specialist McKenzie Hart (Apalachin, NY/Owego Free Academy) picked up 28 digs for the Golden Flyers as they escaped with the win on Friday night.
Sage is back in action on September 28 hosting St. John Fisher College in a 2 p.m. Empire 8 match at Kahl Gym. Nazareth travels to Utica for a 2 p.m. E8 match on Saturday as well.
