No. 2 Nazareth Outlasts Men's Volleyball

ERIE, Pa. – The No. 2 Nazareth men's volleyball team had four players in double figure kills led by Tim Zyburt with a game high of 12 to defeat Penn State Behrend 3-1 in United Volleyball Conference (UVC) action on Wednesday night.

The Golden Flyers (15-0, 6-0 UVC) won the first two sets 25-11 and 25-20 before dropping the third set 25-22. Nazareth came back to post a 25-13 decision in the fourth to remain the only team in Division III undefeated on the season.

Cole Hutter and Robert Kraft each added 10 kills apiece, hitting .818 and .750, respectively. EJ Wells-Spicer handed out 53 assists on 59 kills for the match.

For the Lions (8-8, 2-5 UVC), Nathan Steele (Cranberry Township, PA/Seneca Valley) and Grant Kocher (McMurray, PA/Peters Township) led the offense. Steele had 11 kills, while Kocher earned his third double-double of the season with 10 kills and 10 digs. Kocher also had two solo blocks.

The Golden Flyers made a statement in the first set with only giving up 11 points and then grabbed a 2-0 lead in the match with a five-point win in the second set.

After seven ties and three lead changes, Behrend went ahead 22-20 on a kill from Kevin Smith (Harrisburg, PA/Central Dauphin) and an ace by Steele to force a Nazareth timeout. Smith knocked in another kill to make it, 23-21. Despite a service error on the next point, the Lions took advantage of two attack errors by the Golden Flyers to win the third set, 25-22.

In the fourth set, Nazareth jumped out to an 18-7 lead and never looked back for the victory.

Evan Fullerton (Ambridge, PA/Ambridge) collected 25 assists and recorded three digs.

Behrend is just the fifth team to take a set away from Golden Flyers this season.

The Lions return to action on March 9 at SUNY New Paltz for the UVC Crossover.