PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Third-seeded Nazareth avenged a previous defeat Friday as the Golden Flyers knocked off second-seeded Hartwick in a semifinal match of the Empire 8 Conference Tournament for women's volleyball. The Golden Flyers won in four sets at St. John Fisher by scores of 25-22, 25-22, 21-25, 25-19.

The victory vaulted Nazareth, 14-10 overall, into Saturday's championship match at 2 p.m. against top-seeded and host St. John Fisher. The Cardinals defeat Elmira in three sets in the other semifinal match.The winner of Saturday's match gains an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. Hartwick dropped to 18-4. The Hawks defeated the Golden Flyers in a five-set regular-season match back on Sept. 25.

On Friday, the Golden Flyers got double-digit kill totals from freshmen Zoe Tylipakis and Ruth Jackson along with junior Kaylee Kelly to outpoint the Hawks. Tylipakis equaled her career-best with 14 kills, while Jackson had her best match of the season with 10 kills and four aces. Kelly had 12 kills with 10 digs. Freshman Tessa Grover added six kills, 42 assists and 11 digs.

Kelly and Tylipakis each had four kills in the opening set and Jackson had two kills and two aces. In he second set, Nazareth opened a 10-4 lead and never trailed as Tylipakis delivered five more kills and freshman Ella Kules posted two service aces.

After Hartwick claimed the third set, Nazareth posted 13 more kills to take the fourth set. Nazareth's lead grew to 10 points, 22-12, late in the set as he Golden Flyers gradually pulled away. Jackson contributed four of her kills and Kelly had two aces to lead the finish.

Other statistical highlights included 30 digs for senior libero McKenzie Hart and seven kills for junior Eva Lyko.

Saturday's match also will be a rematch of an earlier meeting in which Fisher defeated the Golden Flyers in four sets. The Golden Flyers will be shooting for their ninth E8 title and first since 2018.