Box Score

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Ithaca College volleyball team (8-13, 1-2 Empire 8) suffered a 3-0 (25-14, 25-12, 25-13) Empire 8 setback to host Nazareth (15-4, 3-1 Empire 8) Friday night in the opening match of the 2013 Purple & Gold Invitational.

Nazareth dominated action, forcing the Bombers to commit 11 reception errors, while Ithaca recorded a -.029 hitting percentage. Freshman Shaelynn Schmidt led the Bombers with eight kills. Classmate Molly Brown posted 13 assists for the Blue & Gold.

The Golden Flyers took a 3-0 lead to open the match with Ithaca answering to knot the set at 5. A 9-4 Nazareth run secured the advantage indefinitely for the host squad. It was a 7-1 streak that closed out the first, 25-14. Naz maintained control, powering to a double-digit 13-3 lead in the second en route to a 25-12 second-set victory. The third frame looked much like the first two. The Golden Flyers powered to a 12-3 gap and added to it for a 21-9 advantage. Ithaca surged to cut within 10 thrice, but Naz went on to top it off in three, 25-13.

The Bombers will face Buffalo State and Plattsburgh Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.