SAINTS COMPLETE TRI-MATCH SWEEP WITH 3-0 WIN OVER EMERSON

BOSTON, Mass. - Following a 3-0 win over Anna Maria College in the first match of Saturday afternoon's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match, the Emmanuel College Men's Volleyball Team completed the sweep, boasting a 3-0 win over Emerson College in the nightcap.  With the pair of wins on the day, the Saints have now won four-straight GNAC matches, improving to 15-9 overall and 10-3 in league play.

In the first set of the Saints' match with the cross-town rival Lions, Emmanuel's junior setter Sean Baxley (Saint James, N.Y.) put one down to give the Saints an 11-9 lead. After Emerson quickly battled back to tie the set at 11-all, Emmanuel's front line of Ashanti Jackson (Sacramento, Calif.) and Wyatt Cooper (Ridgefield, Conn.) combined for a block to return the advantage to the hosts and EC would not relinquish the lead for the remainder of the set.  An ace from Garrett McGarry (Chicago, Ill.) and a slam from Cooper made it a 20-15 game.  A service ace from Baxley and a kill by Ryan Kessler (Santa Clarita, Calif.) were part of the final run, which ended the set for the Saints and Emmanuel came away with a 25-20 win.

Despite some strong hitting from McIntyre, the Saints charged out to a 17-10 lead in the second.  Zach Whitermore (Whitehall, Pa.) and Wiley exchanged kills to set the score at 19-12, Emmanuel.  The Saints would then go on a 6-3 run to end it.  A huge solo block by Kessler forced set-point for the Saints and a kill by Cooper gave Emmanuel a 25-15 set win and a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third set featured the Saints opening with an 8-5 lead after a solo block by McGarry and Emerson called for a timeout.  Out of the timeout, the Saints went on a 5-2 run to build a 12-7 advantage.  Wiley put down a kill from the left side to set the score at 16-10.  Whitermore's solo block made it a 19-11 game in favor of the Saints.  Monster kills by Cooper and Whitermore helped seal the deal for the hosts and Emmanuel took a 25-16 set three win and the Saints' second sweep of the day.

Whitermore finished the match with a double-double of 11 kills and 11 digs to lead the Saints.  Cooper added 9 kills and 2 assisted blocks.  Kessler and Jackson tallied 8 kills apiece and combined for 12 digs.  Baxley handed out a match-high 37 helpers in the win.

Emerson was led by Wiley's 11 kills.  Jared Gross (Wexford, Pa.) gathered 7 digs, while McGonigle dished out 18 assists and picked up 4 digs in the effort.

Today's tri-match marked Emmanuel's final home matches of the regular season. The Saints will play again on Tuesday night, April 3rd, at Wentworth Institute of Technology in a 7:00 PM start.