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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Nazareth split a pair of men's volleyball matches Saturday, including a three-set setback to host Vassar in the championship match, as the Golden Flyers placed second in the Vassar Invitational.
After winning twice Friday, Nazareth extended its winning streak to six matches Saturday with a five-set win over sixth-ranked Philadelphia Biblical. Scores were 27-30, 30-27, 30-26, 18-30, 15-9. The Golden Flyers then were beaten by Vassar in a three-set final match, 34-32, 30-28, 30-16. Nazareth (now 8-7 overall) and Vassar came into the tournament tied for the No. 14 ranking in Division III.
Freshman
Robert Kraft represented Nazareth on the all-tournament team. He had two kills in the final set against Philadelphia Biblical as Nazareth built a 5-0 advantage. They extended the lead to 14-7 before junior
Ellis Walsh finished the match with a kill.
Kraft had a team-best 16 kills in the match to go with five digs and 10 blocks. Junior
Hans Schroeder added 15 kills, sophomore
Billy Gimello had 12 and junior
Will Siwy had 10. Freshman setter
EJ Wells-Spicer had 40 assists and fellow freshman
Connor Ecklund had 16.
In the Vassar match, Nazareth led for most of the first set and were up 28-24 before Vassar rallied to tie the score at 28. Schroeder had kills for Nazareth's 29th, 30th and 31st points. Then with the score tied at 32, Vassar got kills from Matthew Elgin and Phil Tully to take the set.
The second set also was close throughout with neither team leading by more than three points. Trailing 28-26, Nazareth tied the score at 28 on kills by Kraft and Schroeder. Nazareth attack errors enabled Vassar to secure the next two points and the set.
Vassar cruised in the final set. Nazareth was within 19-16 before Vassar scored the final 11 points to take the match and the tournament title. Schroeder had 14 kills to lead Nazareth and Gimello and Kraft each had nine kills. Spicer had 36 assists and 11 digs.
Nazareth plays again Wednesday at D'Youville at 7 p.m.
