ROCHESTER, NY- The Alfred University women's volleyball team wrapped up their week of conference action with a 3-0 loss to Nazareth University on Saturday from the Kidera Gymnasium. 

The Saxons (3-9, 0-2 Empire 8) dropped their three sets to the Golden Flyers (5-9, 2-0 Empire 8) in 25-11, 25-22, 25-18 fashion. 

Taylor Malone (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) finished the afternoon with 13 kills to go with 3 digs. Darian Ortiz (Santa Fe, NM/St. Michael's) totaled a team-high 13 digs. Delaney Sims (Bogart, GA/George Walton Academy) added 27 set assists and 7 digs for the Saxons. 

"Starting the season with two tough losses in conference competition makes us even hungrier to get our first Empire 8 win next week," Head Coach Mike Honeycutt said. "We will continue to adjust and work hard."

Alfred University played well to begin the opening set, taking two brief leads thanks to a service ace from Ortiz and an eventual kill from Malone. Six straight points from the Golden Flyers closed out the first set to put the Saxons behind. 

In the second set, kills from Malone and Casey Grange (Ithaca, NY/Ithaca) highlighted AU's efforts as part of three lead changes. An attacking error from Nazareth had cut AU's deficit to 23-22, but two quick points from the Golden Flyers closed out the second set. 

The Saxons trailed by a 14-9 margin in the third set, but points from Grange, Cara Bratthauar (Chambersburg, PA/Chambersburg Area), and Shelby Baker (Geneseo, NY/Geneseo Central) tied the game 15-15. The Golden Flyers responded with 10 of the next 13 points to close out the match. 

Alfred University will next host Hartwick College on Friday with the first set scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM.