PBU Box | Carthage Box
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Top-ranked Nazareth began national championship title defense Friday with splitting two matches in the opening day of the Golden Flyer Invitational, hosted by Nazareth. The Golden Flyers completed a three-set sweep of 14th-ranked Philadelphia Biblical in the opening match of the Golden Flyer Invitational. Nazareth won by scores of 25-14, 25-21, 25-14. The Golden Flyers fell to third-ranked Carthage in their second set of the evening. The Red Men defeated Nazareth by the scores of 25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 25-17.

Against Carthage, the Golden Flyers, champions of the 2011 Molten Division III Tournament, received a team-high 13 kills from senior Ellis Walsh. Walsh finished with a hitting percentage of .522 after converting 13 of his 23 attempts with only one error. Junior Rob Kraft and senior Billy Gimello added 12 kills and 11 kills, respectively. Junior EJ Wells-Spicer amassed a team-high 41 assists while junior Dan Mowery finished with a match-high 10 digs.

Randy Hansen accumulated a match-high 22 kills for Carthage. Connor Wexter recorded a match-high 42 assists and a team-high eight digs.

Although the Red Men defeated the Golden Flyers in four sets, the match statistics were comparable. Carthage edged Nazareth in total kills, 52-48, however, the Golden Flyers finished with a 6-4 advantage in service aces. Wells-Spicer had three aces to lead the Golden Flyers. Each team had 29 total digs and Nazareth finished with a 10.5-8 edge in total blocks. Freshman Luke Lawatsch had four total blocks for the Golden Flyers, followed by senior Billy Gimello and Walsh with three total blocks each.

In their match against Philadelphia Biblical, the Golden Flyers, used a balanced offensive attack as junior Alex Houghtalen and sophomore Cole Hutter each posted eight kills, while Walsh and freshman Brody Cord each had seven.

Hutter's eight kills came in just 10 attempts for a hitting percentage of .800, while Cord used 11 swings for a .636 hitting percentage. Nazareth had 45 kills overall with just nine hitting errors in 77 attempts for a .468 hitting percentage.

Junior Connor Ecklund had 22 assists and Walsh added six blocks.

Nazareth resumes action in the Golden Flyer Invitational on Saturday. The Golden Flyers take on Southen Vermont at 12 p.m. to begin their action.