VOLLEYBALL TEAM DOWNS WENTWORTH IN COLLEGES OF THE FENWAY BATTLE

BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Ryan Kessler (Santa Clarita, Calif.) recorded 10 kills on 17 swings to help pace the Emmanuel College men's volleyball team to a 3-0 win over Wentworth Institute of Technology in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action played at Tansey Gymnasium on Tuesday night.

The Saints grabbed a 1-0 lead with a 25-14 lead in the opening set, a game that saw the Leopards record a match-low of nine kills. Junior Ross Burdett (Needham, Mass.) had five of Wentworth's nine kills in the game.

Wentworth recorded a match-high 13 kills in the second game, but saw Emmanuel pull away late and take a 2-0 lead with a 25-19 win. Sophomore Rami Akouri (Fall River, Mass.) had four kills in the second game. The Saints closed out the match with a 25-21 win in the third game, despite the Black & Gold hitting a match-high .348 as a team. Junior Brian Mann (East Freetown, Mass.) had four kills in the third game.

In addition to his 10 kills and .417 attack percentage, Kessler recorded four blocks. Sophomore Zach Whitermore (Whitehall, Pa.) hit .500 after recording nine kills on 16 swings, while classmate Ashanti Jackson (Sacramento, Calif.) and freshman Julian Hess (Santa Monica, Calif.) had seven kills apiece. Hess also added three solo blocks. Freshman Ernie Gurule (Los Angeles, Calif.) notched 12 digs and senior Nick Updike ran the offense with 38 assists in the winning effort.

Burdett finished with nine kills, Mann eight, and junior Mike Buonincontra (Shelton, Conn.) seven. Mann hit .700, as he made just one error in 10 swings. Burdett also added seven digs, freshman Zach Newhouse had six digs, and senior Tyler Moriarty (Wilbraham, Mass.) finished with 24 assists.

Emmanuel improves to 15-13 overall and 10-2 in GNAC play, while Wentworth falls to 17-8 (8-3). Both teams are in action on Thursday night.  The Saints play at Lasell, while the Leopards are at Rivier.

Release courtesy of Wentworth Institute of Technology Sports Information