ROCHESTER, NY – In a replica of their previous matchup earlier in the season, #13 Nazareth jumped out to win the first two sets against east avenue rival St. John Fisher, before the 11^th-ranked Cardinals roared back to win the next three for a 24-26, 30-32, 25-18, 25-21, 15-13 victory Friday night at Kidera Gymnasium. Junior Owen Wickens set the school record with 33 kills in the match. He had previously tied the single match record of 29 kills in a win over Mount Union earlier in the season.
 
With the loss, Nazareth now awaits its UVC postseason fate. MIT picked up its first UVC win of the season on Friday, defeating Elmira in four sets to keep its postseason hopes alive. The Engineers would knock the Golden Flyers out of postseason play with a win at NYU (2-3) on Saturday.
 
Nazareth is 20-6 overall and 1-5 in UVC, while the Cardinals are 20-6 and 3-3.
 
In the first, Nazareth trailed 22-19 and scored seven of the last nine points to win the set. The Golden Flyers hit .421 with 12 kills on 19 attempts with four errors. Wickens was .625 in the set with six kills.
 
Nazareth had six chances to win the second set and staved off two set points from the Cardinals before winning the thrilling set. After strong hitting in the first, Nazareth had an even better second at .459.
 
The Cardinals raced out to an 8-0 lead in the third set and never look back, taking the set 25-18.
 
Nazareth led 14-10 in the fourth before giving up four-straight points. Fisher went on to win the set 25-21.
 
The Golden Flyers had an 8-6 hold in the fifth set following a setting error by the Cardinals. Fisher was able to take the lead for good after scoring two-straight points to make it 14-12.

Nazareth inched within 14-13 only to have the Cardinals close out the match on the next point.
 
The Cardinals size proved to be a big factor as they held a 24-12 edge in blocks for the match.
 
Wickens hit .417 in the match with 33 kills on 60 attempts with just eight errors. He also had six digs.
 
Alex Bertino was the only other Golden Flyer in double digit kills with 10.
 
Max Stuver was good for nine kills, 22 assists and six digs. Trent Caviness had a game-high 36 assists.
 
Seth Terzo contributed 13 digs.

Prior to the game, Nazareth honored its five seniors in Nate Allen, Terzo, Jonathon Jackson, Nick Cardone, and Caviness.