ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Cortland finished 1-1 during the first day of action at the eight-team Nazareth College Golden Flyer Invitational. The Red Dragons swept Allegheny to start the day, 25-17, 25-17, 25-20, but lost in five sets to host Nazareth after rallying from a 2-0 deficit. Nazareth won the first two sets, 25-21 and 29-27, before Cortland responded for 25-23 and 25-15 victories in the next two sets. The hosts won the fifth set, 15-13.

Cortland (3-3) will complete pool play Saturday at noon versus The Sage Colleges. The Red Dragons will then play one final “positional” match, based on their pool standing, Saturday at either 2 or 4 p.m.

In the opener versus Allegheny, senior outside hitter Michelle Gaufman (Wantagh/MacArthur) led the Red Dragons with 11 kills and also recorded six digs and three blocks. Sophomore middle hitter Sheena Asibey (Brentwood) totaled 10 kills and five blocks and freshman outside hitter Katie Wick (Cortland/Homer) finished with eight kills and 10 digs.

Freshman setter Kristen Guercio (Smithtown/Smithtown East) handed out 32 assists and added seven digs and two blocks. Senior outside hitter Ariel Rakita (Lake Grove/Sachem) contributed seven kills and 11 digs to the winning effort and freshman libero Erin Carrino (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker) registered 12 digs.

Against Nazareth, Wick led the team with 14 kills and picked up 10 digs. Asibey and Gaufman added 11 kills each, with Gaufman also getting 13 digs.

Sophomore middle hitter Kaitlyn Cooper (Rochester/Webster Schroeder) chipped in with eight kills and led the team with three blocks. Guercio had 35 assists, Carrino posted team-highs of 32 digs and three aces, and Rakita had 15 digs.