2013 MEN’S VOLLEYBALL SEASON IN REVIEW

BOSTON, Mass. – For the fifth time in six years, the Emmanuel College men's volleyball team advanced to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Championship game to culminate another successful campaign in which the Saints posted an 18-14 overall record including a 12-2 mark in GNAC play. Ultimately, EC fell to Rivier University in the GNAC title match, 3-1, but with just one senior on the roster, the Saints will continue to be a force in the conference and Northeast region for years to come.

The 2013 season for the Saints began in Rochester, N.Y. at the Golden Flyer Invitational held on the campus of Nazareth College. EC began the season ranked No. 15 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (ACVA) poll and would face three other nationally ranked opponents at the Invitational in Elmira, Nazareth and Medaille. Emmanuel returned to Boston with a 1-3 mark, notching their first victory of the year over Southern Vermont in a 3-1 win led by ten kills from sophomore outside hitter Ashanti Jackson (Sacramento, Calif.)

EC opened their home and GNAC schedule with an impressive 3-0 victory over Johnson & Wales before dropping a highly contested match to the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, Springfield College. Emmanuel rebounded with another impressive GNAC win over Emerson as freshman middle hitter Julian Hess (Santa Monica, Calif.) registered 11 kills and a .526 hitting percentage in the win.

Emmanuel saw some of the best competition in the country to close out the month of February, facing five nationally ranked opponents over the span of four days. The stretch began with a tough 3-1 loss to GNAC rival, No. 10 Rivier University before EC headed to New York for the Baruch College Invitational. At Baruch, they faced No. 2 Nazareth, No. 4 Stevens, No. 11 Elmira and No. 12 Stevenson. After dropping the first three matches of the tournament to Nazareth, Stevenson and Stevens, Emmanuel was able to round out the weekend on a high note, downing Elmira 3-1 behind a monster 18-kill performance from Jackson. Senior setter Nick Updike dished out 47 assists in the win and was named to the All-Tournament Second Team.

March began right where February left off as Emmanuel would face the No. 1 team in the nation once again, this time at Springfield College. The Pride swept the Saints in three but EC was able to rebound with a 3-1 GNAC win over Wentworth on March 5 as freshman outside hitter Barrett Wingard (Dallastown, Pa.) slammed home a match-high 21 kills while Jackson and sophomore opposite Ryan Kessler (Santa Clarita, Calif.) chipped in with 12 kills each.

On March 7, Emmanuel welcomed in Division I opponent Harvard to the Jean Yawkey Center. The Saints jumped out to an impressive 25-19 first set victory before falling to the Crimson, 3-1 in the match.

At Endicott College's March Mania Tournament, Emmanuel posted three victories including wins over No. 13 MIT and Kean University who was also receiving votes in the AVCA national poll. Updike was again named to the All-Tournament team for the Saints.

On March 19, EC would down Mount Ida College 3-0 before falling to MIT two nights later, 3-1. Following the loss to the Engineers, Emmanuel began the bulk of their GNAC play with a tri-match sweep of Lasell College and Johnson & Wales on March 23. Sophomore outside hitter Zach Whitermore (Whitehall, Pa.) posted eight kills in the win over JWU.

The Saints continued to roll, making it five in a row with 3-0 victories over Emerson, Mount Ida and Albertus Magnus before a crucial match vs. Rivier on March 30 to determine the No. 1 seed in the GNAC tournament. In one of the most exciting opening sets in program history, the Raiders ultimately came away with a 37-35 win to set the tone for the match. Rivier would keep the momentum in the second set with a 25-22 win before Emmanuel showed a lot of heart by taking set three, 25-21. Set four was another battle but went in favor of the visitors, 25-23.

Emmanuel was able to take care of business the rest of the regular season, posting a 3-0 win over Wenworth to go along with an exciting 3-2 victory over Lasell on April 4 in which Whitermore slammed home 18 kills and Updike dished out 49 helpers. A 3-0 win over Albertus wrapped up the regular season to lock in the No. 2 seed in the GNAC tourney.

After an opening round bye, Emmanuel hosted Emerson College in the GNAC Quarterfinals and made quick work on the Lions in a 3-0 win on April 11.Kessler and Hess put together the most efficient hitting combination in the program's history, combining for 21 kills on 23 attempts. Kessler set a new single match record with 11 kills on 12 swings for a .917 hitting percentage in the victory.

In the GNAC Finals, Emmanuel travelled to Nashua, N.H. to face the reigning five-time defending GNAC Champs in Rivier University. The Raiders come out of the gates on fire with a 25-13 first set win but EC answered with a 26-24 win in set two to even the match. In a close third set, the Raiders pulled away late with a 25-21 win but EC battled and jumped out to a 17-10 lead in set four with all things pointing towards a fifth set. Unfortunately for the Saints, Rivier was able to rally for a 28-26 fourth set win to take the match 3-1 and capture their sixth GNAC crown.

Updike was recognized on the GNAC All-Conference First Team while Jackson and Whitermore were named to the GNAC Second Team. Hess was tabbed to the GNAC Third Team in his rookie season.

Updike, the only senior on the 2013 roster, graduates as the program's all-time leader in assists (3,629), matches played (132) and sets played (431). He also ranks third all-time with 222 aces and fifth all-time in digs with 540.