Box | Updated stats
ELMIRA, N.Y. -- Sixth-ranked Nazareth fell to 15th-ranked Elmira in five sets in a men's volleyball match on Wednesday evening. The scores of the non-conference match were 22-25, 20-25, 25-21, 29-27, 15-12. Junior Grant Levermore had a team-high 14 kills. Senior Luke Lawatsch tallied 13 kills, and junior Tim Zyburt recorded 12 kills.

Following the loss, the Golden Flyers drop to 14-3 overall. With the victory, the Soaring Eagles improve to 12-8 overall.

In the opening set, Nazareth trailed 14-12 before scoring four consecutive points. Levermore started the run with a kill, then junior Josh Hieb and Chris Mahan teamed for an assisted block. Following an Elmira hitting error, Mahan and Hieb combined for another block. The Golden Flyers maintained the lead through the remainder of the set and sealed the victory with an assisted block by freshman Jake Kemp and Mahan.

In the second set, the Soaring Eagles claimed a 20-16 lead before Nazareth tallied the final nine points of the set to take a two-set lead. Levermore ignited the run with a kill, which was followed by a kill from freshman Sam Bittker. Kemp connected on a service ace before Levermore converted another kill attempt. The Golden Flyers used blocks in two of the final three points, including the last point. Bittker and Mahan combined for one block before Mahan and Levermore teamed for another. Nazareth also took advantage of three Soaring Eagles' hitting errors.

The Golden Flyers used a 4-0 scoring run in the thrid set to claim a 13-12 edge in the third set. After trading points, Nazareth took a 16-14 lead, however, Elmira answered with seven straight points to take a 21-16 lead. The Golden Flyers closed their deficit before the end of the set, but were unable to threaten the Soaring Eagles' lead.

Similar to the earlier sets, Elmira had an early lead, 8-4, in the fourth set. Nazareth scored five of the next six points to tie the set at nine points apiece. Lawatsch had a pair of kills and Lawatsch was a part of two assisted blocks. He teamed with Zyburt and Kemp to help the Golden Flyers rally. Elmira also had a hitting error. Nazareth stretched its lead to four points, 22-18, before surrendering five of the next six points to allow the Soaring Eagles to tie the set. Elmira eventually prevailed 29-27 after both teams had set point opportunities.

In the fifth set, Nazareth rallied from a pair of two-point deficits, 8-6 and 11-9, before the Soaring Eagles closed the match with four of the last five points. After a kill from Lawatsch, he combined with Zyburt for an assisted block to tie the set 9-9. Following a kill by Mahan, Mahan teamed with Levermore for an assisted block to tie the match at 11. Elmira sealed the victory with block to win the match.

Kemp finished with 45 assists as he directed Nazareth's attack. Kemp also had an impact defensively with a team-high 10 digs. Levermore added eight digs. At the net, Mahan amassed seven assisted blocks and Lawatsch recorded five assisted blocks.

The Golden Flyers are in action again this weekend when they travel back to Elmira to play Wells, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and and Stevenson.