NYU vs. Nazareth Box Score

NYU vs. Ithaca Box Score

The New York University women's volleyball team rallied from a 2-0 hole to stun Nazareth College in a five-set nail-biter on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the New York State Regional Challenge, hosted by the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY.

The win, coupled with their victory earlier in the day over Ithaca College, gave head coach Ed Caesar his sixth 20-win season, in seven years at NYU.

In the first two sets the Violets (20-13) appeared sluggish against the Golden Flyers (27-8), giving up early leads in both before dropping them 25-21, 25-19.

In the third set the Violets looked like a different team.  They held the score close early before taking the lead for good at 9-8.  NYU continued to pile it on, building an eight-point lead with a 11-4 run on its way to a 25-17 win.

The fourth set saw NYU fall behind early 5-2.  However, three straight Nazareth attack errors evened the score at five.  The two teams traded points from that point on as the set featured 10 ties.  After a 20-20 tie, the Violets took the lead for good off two kills from sophomore Kasey Estes and went on to a 25-22 win.

The fifth set was one for the ages.  The Violets broke out of the gate early, taking an 8-5 lead into the court-switch.  However, over the next eight points the momentum of the set shifted as the Golden Flyers took the lead at 12-11 off their second consecutive service ace.  NYU quickly tied the score and regained the lead off of a service ace from senior captain Stacy Goto.  The Violets then let the first two of nine combined match-points slip through their fingers at 14-12 and 14-13.  NYU had two more opportunities to seal the match at 15-14 and 16-15, but did not seize them.  Nazareth fought back both times and then had four match-points of their own.  However, two kills from freshman Kolby Warren and two more from sophomore Erin Noonan foiled those attempts.  Finally, at 23-22, the Violets took advantage of their fifth match-point of the set, as a Nazareth attack error finally gave NYU the set and match, 24-22.

Overall, the two hour and 20 minute match saw 52 tie scores and 20 lead changes.

On offense, Noonan led the way with 15 kills while hitting .542 along with team-highs in both service aces (3) and blocks (3).  Freshman Elizabeth Dick was also in double-digits, putting down 14 kills while adding 12 digs for her 10th double-double of the season.

Defensively, sophomore Rachel Sawyer led all player with a season-high 27 digs, while Goto and freshman Britney Messier were also both in double-digits with 15 and 11, respectively.

Freshman Jillian Tremmel led the offensive come-back for NYU, putting up 41 assists while adding eight digs and two service aces.

For the Golden Flyers, Audrey Zimmerman led all players with 21 kills, while Mallorie Clary put up 23 digs.

In the Violets' first match of the day, the team snapped a six-match losing streak by sweeping Ithaca.

The Violets got out of the gate slowly against the Bombers (17-18), falling behind 3-0. However, a 17-6 run by NYU put the first set out of reach quickly as the Violets won it 25-17.

In the second set, the Violets once against started slowly, falling behind 4-1. However, NYU once again rallied with a run. Scoring 14 of the next 19 points, the Violets put together a six-point lead. NYU built its lead to 10 at 21-11. But, this time the Bombers mounted a rally, bringing the score back to within five at 22-17. The run proved to be too little, too late, as the Violets held on for the 25-20 win.

Although the Violets against started slowly in the third set, falling behind 5-1, they again rallied quickly and tied the score at 10-10. NYU did not stop there as they took 15 of the next 20 points with Goto serving 10 straight as NYU took the final set 25-15.

On offense for NYU, sophomore Annie Baer set a career high, putting down nine kills while hitting .353. Fellow sophomore Noonan also recorded nine kills, while Warren added seven kills while hitting .700.

On defense, Messier and Goto both recorded double-digit digs with 14 each.

The Violets were also bolstered by 12 service aces.  Dick tied a career high with five.

For the Bombers, Chelsea Hayes put down a team-high seven kills while Tina Orlandini put up 12 digs.

The Violets look to continue their perfect weekend as they head into the second day of competition against New York Region opponents.  NYU will take on SUNY Brockport at 10:00 am followed by host RIT at 12:30 pm.