Vassar box | NYU box | Updated stats
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Nazareth dropped a pair of United Volleyball Conference matches Saturday at Vassar to drop their overall record to 16-10 and their conference mark to 2-3. The Golden Flyers lost to fifth-ranked Vassar in four sets by scores of 25-19, 27-25, 19-25, 25-18 and then lost to eighth-ranked New York University in four by scores of 25-18, 25-20, 18-25, 25-20.

After dropping the first set against Vassar, Nazareth also dropped the pivotal second set to the Brewers after taking a 17-13 lead on a kill by Sam Bittker, who recorded a team-best 14 kills. Vassar rallied, however, to take a 24-22 lead. A Vassar service error and a combined block from Kane Wittorff and Ethan Ross enanbled Nazareth to square the set at 24-24. The teams exchanged points, then Vassar took the set on a kill by Matthew Knigge, who finished with 13, and an attacking error by Wittorff.

Nazareth claimed the third set behind six kills by Bittker, before Vassar came back to dominate the fourth set.

In addition to Bittker, Zachary Gillard had nine kills and Ross added eight. Wittorff combined seven kills with six blocks. Jake Kemp had 37 assists and nine digs and Tom Keisling had 13 digs.

The Golden Flyers suffered a similar fate against NYU as they led 12-9 in the opening set before the Violets rallied to score 16 of the next 22 points. Nazareth played well in the final two sets with team hitting percentages of .360 and .370 respectively, but NYU was even better in taking the final set with 18 total kills and a .452 hitting percentage.

Wittorff had 10 kills and six blocks and Gillard added 11 kills. Kemp totaled 30 assists.

Nazareth is idle until March 23 when the Golden Flyers visit Penn State Behrend for a 7 p.m. United Volleyball Conference match.