STRONG SWINGS POWER SAINTS PAST LASERS

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College Men's Volleyball Team cruised to a 3-0 win over visiting Lasell College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action played in the Jean Yawkey Center on Thursday night.  The win boosted the host Saints to 13-9 on the season and 8-3 in league play.  The loss dropped Lasell to 16-7 overall and even at 5-5 in the GNAC.

After falling to the Lasers in a three-setter last month, the Saints rolled to the decisive victory on Thursday night with set scores of 25-16, 25-21 and 25-20.  The twelve-year history between these two programs dates back to the 2003 season.  Emmanuel now leads the all-time series, 23-4.

The Saints' junior attack was stellar throughout the match with tri-captains Zach Whitermore (Whitehall, Pa.), Ashanti Jackson (Sacramento, Calif.) and Ryan Kessler (Santa Clarita, Calif.) combining for 27 kills, as the hosts hit a combined .333 as a team for the match.  Whitermore led the way with 10 kills, 6 digs and 2 blocks.  Kessler tallied 9 kills and 3 digs, while Jackson hit .500 with his 8 kills in 12 swings, to go along with his 4 digs.

Junior setter Sean Baxley (Saint James, N.Y.) dished out a match-high 29 assists and tallied 5 digs.  Baxley, along with sophomore libero Ernie Gurule (Los Angeles, Calif.), each gathered 9 digs to lead the Saints' backrow.  Baxley and Garrett McGarry (Chicago, Ill.) combined for 7 blocks, including McGarry's final solo block on match-point for the Saints.

The Lasers were led by Daniel Raffol's (Natick, Mass.) 11 kills and 4 digs.  Sophomore Ryan Jackson (Massillon, Ohio) added 9 kills and hit .316 for the match, while Matthew Dugan (New Lenox, Mass.) notched a team-best 10 digs.  Sophomore setter Andrew Glenn (Westport, Conn.) paced the Laser offense with his 27 helpers.

The Saints will return to action in the Jean Yawkey Center on Saturday afternoon, when Emmanuel plays host to Anna Maria College and Emerson College in a GNAC tri-match, beginning at noon.  Lasell also returns to the court on Saturday, when they compete in a conference tri-match at Rivier University with Johnson & Wales University at 1:00 PM.