JACKSON & WHITERMORE NAMED TO GNAC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

BOSTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College junior outside hitter Ashanti Jackson (Sacramento, Calif.) and junior outside hitter Zach Whitermore (Whitehall, Pa.) have been named to the 2014 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Men's Volleyball All-Conference team as announced by the conference office earlier today. Jackson landed a spot on the Second Team All-Conference squad while Whitermore nabbed a spot on the Third Team. This marks the third consecutive season that both players have earned All-Conference honors.

Jackson earned Second Team honors for the second straight year, leading the Saints with 260 kills while ranking seventh in the GNAC. His 2.74 kills per set also ranked seventh in the conference while his 158 digs ranked second among his teammates. The junior registered 13 matches with 10 or more kills including a season-high of 19 kills in a 3-2 victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology on March 20. Jackson also posted a career-high 14 digs against Johnson & Wales University on Feb. 12. The California native wrapped the season with 50 total blocks, 17 assists and 14 aces.

Over his three years with EC, Jackson has been a go-to offensive threat, amassing 792 kills to rank sixth all-time in program annals. He will enter his senior year with 406 career digs, 126 total blocks and 51 aces.

Whitermore makes his first appearance on the Third Team after back-to-back years on the Second Team. The outside hitter was just behind Jackson averaging 2.73 kills per set, ending the year with 216 kills to rank 12^th overall in the GNAC. The junior missed some action early in the season due to a bad ankle sprain but returned as one of the top offensive threats each night, collecting 10 or more kills in 12 contests including a season-high of 16 winners in a 3-1 victory over Albertus Magnus on March 23. Whitermore also recorded a career-high of five aces on Feb. 21 against #7 Baruch.

In his three years with the program, Whitermore has registered 664 kills to rank eighth all-time. He will enter his final year with 352 digs, 87 total blocks and 84 service aces.

Emmanuel wrapped up the 2014 season with an 18-12 record including an 11-5 mark in GNAC play. Over the year the squad picked up key wins over nationally ranked opponents Baruch (#7) and Wentworth (#16) while advancing to the GNAC Championship game for the third consecutive season. The Saints have no seniors on their roster and will look to challenge for the program's first GNAC title in 2015.

Click here to view the entire 2014 GNAC Men's Volleyball All-Conference Team