Volleyball Splits in Regular-Season Finale to Secure GNAC Playoff Berth

NEW LONDON, N.H. - The Emmanuel College men’s volleyball team secured a spot in the GNAC postseason with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-20) in their regular-season finale vs. Colby-Sawyer College to close out the 2022 regular-season. The Saints dropped their first match of the day to Lasell University, 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-20).

Volleyball Splits in Regular-Season Finale to Secure GNAC Playoff Berth
Box Score

Team Stats

April 2, 2022

THE BASICS 

Match 1: Emmanuel College, 0 – Lasell University, 3 (25-14, 25-21, 25-20)
Match 2: Emmanuel College, 3 – Colby-Sawyer College, 0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-20)

Records: 
Emmanuel Saints (14-14, 7-9 GNAC)
Lasell Lasers (21-7, 14-2 GNAC)
Colby-Sawyer Chargers (5-19, 2-14 GNAC)

Location: New London, N.H. – David L. Coffin Fieldhouse

Date: Saturday, April 2, 2022

THE LEAD – The Emmanuel College men's volleyball team secured a spot in the GNAC postseason with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-18, 25-20) in their regular-season finale vs. Colby-Sawyer College to close out the 2022 regular-season. The Saints dropped their first match of the day to Lasell University, 3-0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-20).

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. Lasell)

  • The squads traded points early to a 2-2 score before Lasell took control of the set with a 9-2 flurry to build a 13-4 lead following a service ace from Jordan Shinaut. The Lasers used the cushion to cruise to the 25-14 first set win.
  • The Saints raced out to an 11-5 lead in behind strong net play by Jyles Amirault and Joshua McDonald but the lead was short-lived as Lasell tied the score at 12-12. The teams would trade points all the way to a 19-19 score before Lasell took the lead for good in the set on a kill by Shinaut to set the stage for a 25-21 Laser win.
  • Emmanuel held a lead in the third set up to a 16-13 score following a kill by first year Thor Yingling but the Lasers responded with five straight points to go ahead 18-16 after a kill from Alex Weinhaus. EC was never able to recover as Lasell closed the set on a 6-1 run to close out the Saints, 25-19 in the third.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • Shinaut and Theo Zaharewicz led Lasell with 11 kills each while Jesus Garcia dished out 28 assists.
  • Lasell hit a combined .350 as a team compared to a .120 clip for the Saints.
  • Amirault paced EC with a match-high 13 kills while Roman Fabrizio finished with 21 assists.

HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. CSC)

  • The Chargers led early, holding an advantage to an 11-9 score before Emmanuel rattled off a 4-0 run to take the lead for good in the first set en route to the 23-18 win.
  • Colby-Sawyer held a lead again in set 2 at 8-7 before the Saints scored three straight points to go ahead 10-8 after a Chargers error. The Saints held CSC to just a .029 hitting percentage in the frame to take the set again by a 25-18 score.
  • Although the tightest set in the match, Emmanuel never trailed in the final frame to push ahead for the 3-0 sweep with the 25-20 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • Emmanuel saw 10 players finish the match with two or more kills including a team-high of seven from Maximilian Olsen. Andrew Eringis added six while Amirault finished with five.
  • Ryan Cave led the defense with a match-high 14 digs while Fabrizio dished out 20 helpers in the win.
  • Orlando Plagata led all players with 11 kills for CSC and Alfredo Hidalgo chipped in with 10 digs. Lucas Lizotte finished the match with 22 assists for Colby-Sawyer.

UP NEXT

  • With the win, EC locks up the No. 6 seed in the 2022 Great Northeast Athletic Conference men's volleyball tournament. The Saints will travel to No. 3 Rivier University for the opening round on Tuesday, April 5.
  • Lasell clinches the No. 2 seed and an opening round bye in the tournament. The Lasers will host the winner of the 4/5 opening round match up in the GNAC Semifinal on Thursday, April 7.
  • Colby-Sawyer's season comes to a close with a final record of 5-19.