Celia Gagnon
September 24, 2021

Nazareth Upends Gators in Empire 8 Opener

ALBANY, N.Y. – Russell Sage College opened Empire 8 Conference play by falling to visiting Nazareth 3-1 (20-25, 12-25, 25-22, 21-25) tonight in the Kahl Gymnasium.

Video Highlights Box Score Game Program

ALBANY, N.Y. –  Russell Sage College opened Empire 8 Conference play by falling to visiting Nazareth 3-1 (20-25, 12-25, 25-22, 21-25) tonight in the Kahl Gymnasium.

Senior middle hitter Celia Gagnon (Troy, NY/Ichabod Crane) (above) totaled nine kills on .333 hitting and four service aces to lead the Gators (4-10/0-1 E8).

Junior defensive specialist Elaina Moisidis (Albany, NY/Albany), registered 22 digs, while sophomore right side Statia Walker (Schodack, NY/Maple Hill) dished out 17 assists. 

Up front, sophomore middle hitter Monalissa Carius (Hudson, NY/Hudson) totaled four blocks, while Gagnon blocked a pair of Golden Flyer attacks.        

Freshman setter/right side Tessa Grover recorded 14 kills on .257 hitting, and 23 assists to pace Nazareth (5-5/1-0 E8). The rookie also aced five of her serves.
 
After dropping the opening two periods, RSC used a 6-0 run to help extend the match. Gagnon recorded five of her kills in the frame.
 
Trailing by eight, 18-10, in the fourth set, the Gators did not go quietly, trimming the deficit to two, 23-21, before the Golden Flyers sealed the road victory.
 
Looking ahead, both teams are in action tomorrow afternoon. Sage hosts St. John Fisher at 2:00 pm, while Nazareth plays at Hartwick at noon.

Notes:  Senior outside hitter Emma Parkington (Dalton, MA/Wahconah Regional)  and Gagnon entered the night among the E8 leaders in points per-set…Parkington, who recorded her 500th career kill on Saturday, September 11 at SUNY New Paltz, was sixth with 3.21 points per-set...The co-captain, currently with 593 career kills, has 13 career double-doubles, four of which came this season…Gagnon ranked seventh with 3.11 points per-set…Moisidis, who has been in double figures in digs for all but one of the matches this fall, ranked third in the conference with 4.63 digs per-set...She registered her 500th career dig on Saturday, September 11 at SUNY New Paltz...The RSC libero currently has 649 digs in her time as a Gator…Walker has contributed seven double-doubles this fall.

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