Box | Updated stats
ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- Seventh-ranked Nazareth got a match-best 18 kills from senior Billy Gimello and junior setter EJ Wells-Spicer amassed 49 assists Friday as the Golden Flyers defeated ninth-ranked Rivier in a four-set men's volleyball match. Scores were 25-22, 24-26, 25-20, 25-19.

The victory was the eighth for Nazareth in its last nine matches. The Golden Flyers are 15-5 overall. Rivier dropped to 10-5.

Gimello's 18 kills came on 33 attempts for a .424 hitting percentage. He also had five digs and two blocks. Juniors Rob Kraft and Alex Houghtalen added 12 and 11 kills respectively. Wells-Spicer added three service aces, five digs and two blocks. Senior Ellis Walsh and freshman Brody Cord each had seven kills.

Gimello had six of his kills in the first set, including two of Nazareth's last three points as the Golden Flyers broke free from a 22-22 deadlock. In the second set, Rivier's Aaron Almario had four of his team-high 15 kills as the Raiders tied the match with a two-point win.

In the third set, Walsh was the server for five straight points as Nazareth turned a 3-3 tie into an 8-3 advantage. Cord had two kills and Walsh had a service ace during the scoring run.

Nazareth also pulled away in the fourth set as Gimello had four more kills and Kraft and Houghtalen added three each.

Nazareth is off until next weekend when the Golden Flyers host the second round of United Volleyball Conference crossover play. Nazareth plays Bard Saturday at 11:15 a.m., then Stevens and SUNYIT Sunday at 9 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. respectively.