ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- With the women's volleyball season winding down, St. John Fisher won a pivotal Empire 8 Conference match over the Golden Flyers Tuesday as the Cardinals held off Nazareth in a close four-set match at the Kidera Gymnasium. Fisher won by scores of 25-19, 25-27, 27-25, 27-25.

Nazareth dropped to 11-9 overall and 4-2 in the E8. Fisher improved to 19-4 overall and 6-0 in the Empire 8. With the Empire 8 Conference schedule wrapping up this weekend, Fisher now has the inside track on the top seed for next month's conference tournament with its unbeaten league record. Fisher hosts Keuka Friday and visits Utica Saturday. Nazareth hosts Utica Friday at 7 p.m. and visits Houghton Saturday at 1 p.m.

Junior outside hitter Kaylee Kelly paced the Golden Flyers' offensive 17 kills to go with three aces and 11 digs. Freshman Tessa Grover added eight kills with 32 assists and five blocks.

After dropping the first set, Nazareth rallied to win a close second set. The Golden Flyers trailed 23-19 and then 24-22. Nazareth rallied behind a pair of kills by Grover and one each for Olivia Quick and Zoe Tylipakis.

Nazareth had significant leads in sets three and four before Fisher rallied to win each. Kelly had five of her kills in the third set and seven more in the fourth to keep the Golden Flyers competitive. Fisher's Alea Steigerwald, who finished with 17 kills, had six kills in the third set and four in the fourth.

Freshman Ryleigh Bidwell and junior Eva Lyko each had six kills for Nazareth and senior McKenzie Hart had 19 digs and three aces.