ROCHESTER, NY – Four players combined for 54 kills for the Nazareth Women's Volleyball team but Hartwick came back in the fifth set to win a thrilling five set match Friday night in Kidera Gymnasium.

Senior Kaylee Kelly and freshman Rylie Loomis each contributed 16 kills while sophomores Ruth Jackson (10) and Tessa Grover (12) also had double-digit kills to lead Nazareth (4-11 overall, 1-2 Empire 8).

Hartwick (11-3, 3-0 Empire 8) won the first set 25-21 but Nazareth battled back to tie the match with a 25-17 win in the second set. The Hawks regained the lead with a 25-20 win in the third set but the Golden Flyers rallied for a 25-21 win in the fourth to force the fifth set tie breaker.

In the fifth set, Nazareth jumped out to an early lead and held an 8-7 edge as the teams changed sides. Nazareth continued to rally with four of the next six points to take a 12-9 lead but Hartwick scored the final six points of the set to take the match.

Grover added 48 assists, eight blocks and six digs while sophomore Zoe Tylipakis lead the defense with 17 digs. Senior Eva Lyko chipped in nine kills and five blocks while sophomore Ella Kules added seven assists and eight digs.

Nazareth continues Empire 8 play Saturday with an 11:30 a.m. match against Russell Sage and will face Ithaca at 2 p.m. in a non-conference match in Kidera Gym.