ROCHESTER, N.Y. – This past weekend, the Emmanuel College men's volleyball team notched its first victory of the 2013 season with a 3-1 win over Southern Vermont College Saturday afternoon in pool play in the Golden Flyer Invitational at Nazareth College. The Saints, who are ranked No. 15 in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, went up against some of the best competition in the country and came home from the tournament with a 1-3 overall record dropping decisions to No. 16 Elmira (3-1 – 25-22, 25-22, 20-25, 25-17), No. 5 Nazareth (3-0 – 25-23, 25-8, 25-23) and No. 11 Medaille (3-1 – 25-17, 23-25, 27-25, 25-20).
In their opening match of the 2013 campaign, the Saints took on No. 16 Elmira at Kidera Gymnasium. Sophomore outside hitters Ashanti Jackson (Sacramento, Calif.) and Zach Whitermore (Whitehall, Pa.) led the Saints offensive attack with 10 kills each while senior setter Nick Updike dished out 27 assists in the 3-1 defeat.
In their 3-1 victory against the SVC Mountaineers, Emmanuel fell behind early, dropping the opening set 25-20 before taking the final three sets (25-18, 25-14, 25-20) to seal the win. Jackson led the way with 10 kills and seven digs. Whitermore chipped in with eight kills as did freshmen Garrett McGarry (Chicago, Ill.) and Barrett Wingard (Dallastown, Pa.). Updike ran a balanced offensive, distributing 42 helpers in the win while also collecting a team-high 10 digs.
Emmanuel saw some tough competition on Day 2 of the tournament as the No. 5 host Golden Flyers of Nazareth put up some impressive numbers in a 3-0 sweep including a total of 21 block assists, holding the Saints to a negative -.042 hitting percentage.
In their final match of the tournament, EC gave everything they had against No. 11 Medaille but came up short in a 3-1 defeat to the Mavericks. With the match deadlocked at a set a piece after two frames, Medaille was able to win a decisive third set in extra points (27-25) to take the momentum en route to their 3-1 victory. Jackson led the Saints with a team-best 15 kill effort while Updike dished out 26 helpers. Wingard added nine kills while sophomore middle hitter Wyatt Cooper (Ridgefield, Conn.) registered eight kills.
The Saints will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 7 for their home and conference opener when they host Johnson & Wales University in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action at the Jean Yawkey Center at 7:00 PM. Emmanuel, who was picked No. 2 in the GNAC Pre-Season Coaches Poll, will look to bounce back against the Wildcats who were slotted in the No. 3 slot in the GNAC Poll released last week.
