Updated Stats

ELMIRA, NY – Nazareth won a pair of four set matches Saturday over Elmira and SUNY Poly, the final tune-up matches for the Golden Flyers before the UVC tournament begins next Thursday.  Nazareth downed Elmira 25-21, 25-23, 25-27, 25-17, before a 23-25, 25-15, 25-21, 25-16 triumph over SUNY Poly.

Nazareth, 21-12 overall, earned the sixth seed for next weekend's UVC tournament and will take on third-seeded Stevens at 7:30 p.m. in the quarterfinals Thursday.  Top-seeded Vassar will host the tournament.

Nazareth 3, Elmira 1

For the third time this season, sophomore Zachary Gillard hit the 20-kill mark to pace the Nazareth offense.  He had 20 kills on a .366 attack percentage.

Hitting .352 for the match, Nazareth took the first two sets, only to see the Soaring Eagles squeak out a 27-25 third set.

The Golden Flyers cruised to the final set win with just four hitting errors and 17 kills for a .419 attack percentage. 

Sam Bittker had 12 kills in the match. Sean Dillon and Kane Wittorff each put down nine kills on impressive hitting percentages of .533 and .500, respectively.

Jake Kemp had a season-best 55 assists.

Nazareth 3, SUNY Poly 1

After dropping the opening set, Nazareth put together its strongest set of the day, with 15 kills and just one error on 22 attempts (.636) for a 25-15 margin.

Tom Keisling was the most efficient in the match with seven kills (.545) and a game-high eight digs.

Ethan Ross and Bittker managed nine kills apiece.

Kemp registered 43 assists.