Saints Stay Unbeaten in GNAC Play With 3-0 Win vs. Emerson

BOSTON - The Saints stayed unbeaten in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play, picking up their second GNAC win of the season following Friday night’s straight sets win over the Emerson Lions on Yosinoff Court.

Saints Stay Unbeaten in GNAC Play With 3-0 Win vs. Emerson
Program Video Box Score

Team Stats

January 28, 2022

THE BASICS 

Score: 
Emmanuel 3 – Emerson 0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-23)

Records: 
Emmanuel College Saints (3-2, 2-0 GNAC)
Emerson College Lions (1-1, 0-1 GNAC)

Location: Boston, Mass. – JYC Gymnasium/Andy Yosinoff Court

Date: Friday, January 28, 2022

THE LEAD –  The Saints stayed unbeaten in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play, picking up their second GNAC win of the season following Friday night's straight sets win over the Emerson Lions on Yosinoff Court.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • In the opening set, the Saints were off to a quick start and expanded their lead to as many as eight at 19-11. Following an Emerson timeout, the Lions began to quickly close the gap, getting within three points late in the set. First year Jyles Amirault (Andover, Mass.) converted set point for the Saints in the opening set for a 25-21 win.
  • In the second set, after trading the lead early on, the Saints managed to gain breathing room in the middle of the set with multiple four-point leads. Much like the first set, the Lions closed in the late portion of the second, but this time Saints junior Daniel Keyes (Fall River, Mass.) converted set point for Emmanuel in the 25-21 second set win.
  • The final set played out similar to the second set of the evening with both teams trading the lead early with the Saints gaining the lead as the set continued. The Saints looked poised to cruise to victory, but a kill from Lions sophomore Neiko Pittman (Santa Clarita, Calif.) got Emerson to within one point of the lead. After a Saints timeout and on the Lions serve, Keyes converted another set point, clinching the match in the process in a 25-23 set win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • Amirault finished with a match-high 13 kills while adding an attack percentage of .206.
  • Junior Joshua McDonald (Smithtown, N.Y.) finished with nine kills while hitting a spectacular .615 from the floor.
  • Pittman finished with 10 kills for the Lions; a team-high. He added seven digs and an attack percentage of .316.
  • First-year Bayden Slavik (Chicago, Ill.) filled the stat sheet with nine kills, 15 assists, and six digs.

UP NEXT

  • The Saints return to play on Saturday, Feb. 5 with a tri-match against Wentworth and Benedictine (Ill.), hosted by Wentworth.
  • The Lions are back in action on Feb. 3 when they host Eastern Nazarene at 7:00 p.m.