Elms box | Kean box | Cumulative stats
MARCY, N.Y. -- Fourth-ranked Nazareth opened its men's volleyball season in successful fashion Friday as the Golden Flyers swept Elms in a three-set match and defeated 11th-ranked Kean in four sets in the opening day of the SUNY Polytechnic Invitational. Nazareth beat Elms of 25-10, 25-7, 25-19, then rallied to defeat Kean 16-25, 25-28, 25-13, 25-18.

The Golden Flyers (2-0) are ranked fourth in the Division III pre-season poll release earlier this month by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

Against Elms, freshman Zachary Gillard had nine kills on 10 swings to pace the Nazareth attack. Senior Josh Hieb and junior Kane Wittorff each had five kills and sophomore setter Jake Kemp had 16 assists. Wittorff also had six blocks and senior John McCarty had five digs.

Against Kean, Nazareth rallied from a wobbly first set as senior Grant Levermore banged out 16 kills with just one error on 24 swings. Gillard and senior Chris Mahan each had nine kills and senior Tim Zyburt had eight. Kemp totaled 41 assists.

Nazareth plays twice Saturday -- against Wentworth at 1 p.m. and Sage at 3.