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HOBOKEN, N.J. -- Junior outside hitter Billy Gimello hammered out a match-high 19 kills in 28 attempts for a .607 hitting percentage Friday as top-seeded Nazareth won its first-round match at the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association Tournament hosted by Stevens. Nazareth defeated 16th-seeded Lasell in four sets 25-23, 23-25, 25-15, 25-14.

Nazareth, now 26-3 overall and winner of 17 straight matches, plays again in Saturday's quarterfinals at 11 a.m. against the winner of the first-round match between No. 8 Stevens (17-11) and No. 9 New Paltz (20-12). The semifinals are Saturday at 4 p.m. and the championship match is Sunday at 1 p.m.

The first set proved to be decisive for the Golden Flyers, who trailed 23-22, but rallied to score the last three points. A kill by Willy Siwy was followed by a service ace by Robert Kraft and Lasell attacking error to end the set.

After dropping a close second set, Nazareth finished off Lasell in the next two sets as Gimello had six kills in the third and five more in the fourth.

Senior Ellis Walsh added seven kills in 12 swings and sophomore setter EJ Wells-Spicer had 40 assists. Sophomore libero Dan Mowery totaled 11 digs.