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NEW PALTZ, N.Y. -- Nazareth's men's volleyball team fell to ninth-ranked New Paltz in a UVC match on Sunday afternoon. The Golden Flyers lost to the Hawks in four sets by the scores of 25-14, 18-25, 25-23, 25-20. Junior Zachary Gillard recorded a team-high 12 kills for the Golden Flyers.

Following the loss, Nazareth falls to 15-7 overall and 3-2 in UVC matches. The loss also snaps the Golden Flyers' winning streak, which reached seven matches after Saturday's victory over Sage. With the victory, the Hawks improve to 13-5 overall and 4-1 in UVC matches.

New Paltz controlled action in the opening set by amassing nine of the first 10 points. Nazareth closed its deficit to six points, 17-11, following a kill by sophomore Sean Dillon, an ace by junior Ethan Ross, and a Hawks' attack error.

The Golden Flyers answered by winning the second set by seven points. Nazareth used a short 3-0 scoring run to turn a 4-4 tie into a 7-4 advantage. Following New Paltz service and hitting errors, senior Jake Kemp converted an attack opportunity. The Golden Flyers maintained a lead throughout the remainder of the set, stretching their advantage to eight points on multiple occasions.

The third set was pivotal as Nazareth took an 11-3 lead, but the Hawks stormed back with a 14-6 scoring run to tie the set at 17 points apiece. Gillard recorded a kill and a pair of services aces to help the Golden Flyers to the early lead. An assisted block by senior Sam Bittker, sophomore Joe Crosby, and Kemp gave Nazareth the 11-3 advantage. After New Paltz rallied, the teams traded points before the Golden Flyers seemed to reclaim control, 21-19. The Hawks, however, ended the set with a 6-2 scoring run to take the momentum into the fourth set.

In the fourth set, New Paltz took a 5-3 lead after a Nazareth hitting error and a service ace. The Hawks built their advantage to as many as seven points, 22-15, before the Golden Flyers scored five consecutive points. During the run, Ross had an ace and Bittker and Dillon combined for a block. A New Paltz attack error allowed Nazareth to get within two points for the first time since the set was 7-5. Following the Golden Flyers' scoring run, the Hawks closed the match with the next three points.

In addition to the kills from Gillard, Bittker and Ross had five kills apiece, followed by Dillon and Kemp with four kills and three kills, respectively. Kemp recorded 26 assists as Nazareth's primary setter, and Gillard finished with three service aces.

Defensively, sophomore Luis Vazquez had a team-high eight digs, but he had to leave midway through the match due to an injury. Bittker and junior Tyler Farnung chipped in an additional six digs. Dillon led Nazareth at the net by having a hand in three blocks.

The Golden Flyers are in action again March 15th when Nazareth travels to Naperville, Illinois to play North Central. The Golden Flyers play Milwaukee SOE (March 16th) and sixth-ranked Dominican (March 17th) during their mid-west road trip. Nazareth returns to Rochester for UVC matches against Bard and 15th-ranked Elmira on March 24th and 25th. The UVC matches will be played at St. John Fisher.