NYU box l MIT box l Updated stats
NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Nazareth's men's volleyball team, ranked seventh nationally, traveled to New York University on Saturday for a pair of United Volleyball Conference matches. The Golden Flyers rallied to defeat the host NYU Violets in four sets by the scores of 21-25, 25-17, 25-20, 25-20 before Nazareth defeated MIT in four sets by the scores of 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 25-16.

With the victories, Nazareth improves to 23-4 overall and 6-2 in UVC matches. Following the loss, ninth-ranked NYU drops to 13-8 overall and 4-3 in conference matches. MIT drops to 15-10 overall and 2-5 in UVC matches.

Against NYU, juniors Tim Zyburt and Josh Hieb and senior Luke Lawatsch combined to amass 40 kills and only six hitting errors. Zyburt tallied a match-high 19 kills with only two errors on 33 attempts.
The Golden Flyers stumbled in the opening set against NYU, falling by four points. The Violets took an 11-6 lead before Nazareth rallied to cut its deficit to 18-16 following a kill by senior Nick McDonagh. NYU answered with a 4-1 scoring run to take a 22-17 lead. A kill from junior Chris Mahan and two kills from Hieb brought the Golden Flyers to within two points, but the Violets prevailed.

NYU recorded a .381 attack percentage on 10 kills, two errors, and 21 attempts. Nazareth had a .200 percentage on 15 kills, nine errors, and 30 attempts. The Golden Flyers rebounded in the second set with a torrid .739 hitting percentage on 17 kills, no errors, and only 23 attempts. The Violets improved to a .412 attack percentage in the second set, but they were unable to match Nazareth's performance.

After the second set was tied at seven points apiece, Grant Levermore, Mahan, and Zyburt each had a kill to give the Golden Flyers a three-point lead. A kill by Lawatsch stretched the lead to 17-12, then an ace by Lawatsch extended Nazareth's lead to seven points. The Golden Flyers took the set on an assisted block by Lawatsch and Zyburt.

In the third set, NYU took an initial 5-2 lead before Nazareth scored eight straight points. During the run, Zyburt had two kills while Lawatsch and Jake Kemp each added one. Nazareth also took advantage of four NYU errors. The Golden Flyers maintained control of the set and stretched their lead to 24-16 before settling for the five-point win.

In the fourth set, the contest stayed within three points until a kill by Mahan stretched Nazareth's lead to 18-14. The Violets closed to within two points, 22-20, but the Golden Flyers responded with points on a kill by Zyburt, an assisted block by Kemp and Lawatsch, and a NYU attack error.

For the Violets, Nick Benson led the team with 12 kills, Patrick Merrick had 23 assists, and Andrew Quirk tallied 10 digs.

Against MIT, the Golden Flyers' attack was very consistent, recording a percentage of .321 to .364 in each set. Zyburt and Lawatsch combined for 27 kills and only four total errors, and Mahan added eight kills and only one error.

In the first set, Nazareth scored three straight points midway through the set to extend a 16-15 edge to a 19-15 lead. Kemp and Hieb each had a kill while the Engineers also had an error. A kill by senior Brody Cord gave the Golden Flyers the four-point win.

In the second set, Nazareth rallied from a five-point deficit, 19-14, with 11 of the final 15 points. The Golden Flyers used six MIT errors, and Zyburt, Lawatsch, Hieb, and Cord combined for five kills.

The Golden Flyers also trailed in the third set, 18-15, before an assisted block by Levermore and Lawatsch brought Nazareth to within 23-22. The Engineers held off the Golden Flyers to force the fourth set.

In the fourth set, Nazareth used a 4-0 run to take a 12-9 lead. Zyburt ignited the quick run with a kill, which was followed by a kill from Beeman, and two kills from Levermore. The Golden Flyers stretched their advantage to 22-14 on a kill by Lawatsch, and Cord sealed the match with another kill.

Nazareth is in action again on March 31st when the Golden Flyers travel to Medaille for a non-conference match at 7 p.m.