ROCHESTER, NY (nazathletics.com) - Nazareth Men's Volleyball (6-2) defeated Nichols (2-3), 3-0, in the team's final Nazareth Invitational match inside Kidera Gymnasium Saturday morning. The Golden Flyers recorded wins over Penn State Behrend and Carlow yesterday for a perfect 3-0 weekend record. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• After early ties in the first set, Nazareth turned a 7-7 deadlock into separation with a 9-2 run built on transition kills, stretching the lead to 16-9 and never letting it dip below six before closing the frame at 25-18.
• Both opponents traded points through the opening half of the second set before Nazareth used a three-point surge around the midpoint to grab breathing room. Nichols answered with a brief service run to pull within one at 18-17 but the Golden Flyers responded immediately and finished the set with a late block to seal 25-21.
• Nazareth set the tone early in the final frame, pushing in front 8-5 and later 15-11 behind efficient first-ball swings. Nichols crept back to 18-18 until Nazareth answered with a decisive closing burst, scoring seven of the final 10 points to secure the sweep, 25-21.

GAME NOTES 

• Ryan Murphy led the Golden Flyers with 10 kills at a .421 clip, his second double-digit kills performance of the season. The sophomore middle added a team-best five blocks along with five digs and one service ace for 13.5 points.
• AJ Burda posted a team-high 27 assists, three digs and two blocks. He led the Golden Flyers to a .375 hitting percentage and 37 kills. 
• Tristan Henderson chipped in nine kills for a .318 hitting percentage along with a block and a dig for 9.5 points. 

UP NEXT
Nazareth faces Trine, Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Hobart Invitational. First serve is slated for 3 p.m. in Geneva, NY. 

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