ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University women's volleyball team prevented Nazareth University from earning a perfect, 11-0 Empire 8 record as it defeated the visitors in four sets on Friday night from the Terry S. Galanis Family Arena.
 
The Saxons (15-7, 7-3 Empire 8) dropped the first set to the Golden Flyers (20-11, 10-1 Empire 8) 25-18 before winning the next three sets in a row, 25-23, 25-19, 25-20. The victory came in Naz's final regular season conference match despite already earning the regular season championship crown and the right to host throughout the playoffs as the No. 1 seed.
 
"Tonight was a night of big emotions, having received our E8 Conference Championship rings, celebrating the seniors and our last home match," Head Coach Mike Honeycutt said. "Going against Naz, who was undefeated in conference, was a big task. We were able to reign in our emotions and fed off of the advantage of having an amazing home crowd. This win helps give us confidence going into our last match and wherever we may end up in the E8 playoffs."
 
In pre-match ceremonies, members of the 2023 Alfred University Volleyball Empire 8 Champions team were presented with their championship rings, gifted through generous efforts of donors wishing to celebrate the successes of the student-athletes. After warmups and just before first serve, Anjoeline Armstrong (Simi Valley, CA/Bishop Alemany) and Kristin Finley (Kenyon, MN/Kenyon-Wanamingo) were celebrated during Senior Night as both, alongside fifth year, Jamie Chun (Hilo, HI/Hilo) played in their final home regular season match in the Galanis Family Arena.
 
The Saxons were led on the offensive side by Carleigh Santavy (Commerce, MI/Walled Lake Northern) with match-highs in points and kills, totaling 14.5 points on 13 kills while adding three block assists and two digs. Taylor Malone (Horseheads, NY/Horseheads) followed with 12.0 points, all from kills as she added three digs on the defensive side of the coin. Cara Bratthauar (Chambersburg, PA/Chambersburg Area) had a match-high in attack percentage of hitters have 10 or more attempts, averaging a .357 as she had seven kills on 14 attempts with two errors while adding one solo block and two block assists.
 
Chun tied a match-high in digs with 17 as she scored three points on aces while assisting on three kills. Delaney Sims (Bogart, GA/George Walton Academy) had a match-high in assists with 36 while adding 8.0 points on three kills, three aces, one solo block and two block assists as well as tacking on eight digs.
 
Every Saxon player that stepped onto the court, registered either a point, dig or set assist in a combined team win.
 
The Saxons never gave up the lead in the entire third set or the fourth set. The win marks number 15 on the season for Alfred University, breaking last year's mark of 14 and is the most wins by a Saxon volleyball team since 2000.
 
The Saxons will next close out their regular season with a short trip to St. John Fisher University on Saturday, November 2 at 2:00pm for a conference matchup.