Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Behrend Box | Vassar Box l Updated stats l Tournament site
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Top-seeded Nazareth defeated No. 8 Penn State Behrend in four sets in the quarterfinal match of the United Volleyball Conference Tournament, then the Golden Flyers cruised past No. 5 Vassar in three sets in Saturday evening's semifinal match. The scores against Behrend were 25-22, 26-24, 20-25, 25-15. Nazareth knocked off 11th-ranked Vassar by the scores of 25-14, 25-19, 25-23.

Nazareth, now 33-1 overall and ranked second nationally, will play second-seeded and sixth-ranked Stevens, who defeated third-seeded and fifth-ranked New Paltz in five sets in Saturday's second semifinal. In their only contest during the regular season, the Golden Flyers defeated the Ducks in three sets by the scores of 25-23, 25-22, 25-19. Sunday's UVC Championship match is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Nazareth's Kidera Gymnasium with an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament on the line.

Penn State Behrend ended its season with a 15-15 overall record. Vassar finishedthe season with a 20-13 record.

Against Behrend, Senior Robert Kraft had 14 kills and senior setter EJ Wells-Spicer had 50 assists.

Kraft's 14 kills came against just two hitting errors in 18 attempts for a .667 hitting percentage. He also contributed three digs and four blocks. Senior Alex Houghtalen also added 11 kills and freshman Grant Levermore had nine to go with 11 digs. Wells-Spicer also had eight digs.

Levermore was unstoppable against Vassar in Nazareth's semifinal match. The freshman amassed a match-high 17 kills to lead the Golden Flyers' attack. Sophomore Brody Cord finished with nine kills while Kraft and sophomore Nick McDonagh each added seven kills. Wells-Spicer tallied a match-high 44 assists as he directed Nazareth's efficient attack.

The Golden Flyers' attack finished with hitting percentages of .684, .478, and .406 and tallied at least 15 kills in each set to overwhelm the Brewers. Vassar recorded attack percentages of .312, .062, and .417. Nazareth finished with a 6-0 advantage in service aces, including three aces by Wells-Spicer in a span of four points to close the first set.

Reno Kriz finished with a team-high eight kills for the Brewers while John Konow had a team-high 25 assists.