EMMANUEL SWEEPS EMERSON IN CROSSTOWN RIVALRY

BOSTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College took care of Emerson College in a three-setter of Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's volleyball action played in the Jean Yawkey Center on Tuesday night.  The Saints battled past the Lions with set scores of 25-21, 25-21 and 42-40, with the third set marking the longest in program-history for the host Saints.

With the GNAC victory, Emmanuel now stands at 4-5 on the season and evens its conference record to 2-2.  The Lions drop to 8-7 overall and 1-4 in conference play with the loss.  The Saints continue their unbeaten record against the Lions, a 15-match streak dating back to the Emerson program inception in 2009.

The opening set was hotly contested, featuring ten ties. Emmanuel's largest cushion midway through the set was just a three-point spread at 17-14, following a pair of kills from Ashanti Jackson (Sacramento, Calif.) and Barrett Wingard (York, Pa.).  The Saints were able to stretch their lead back to three after an Emerson hitting error at 24-21 and a Wingard kill gave the hosts the opener, 25-21.

Emmanuel surged out to a 10-3 lead in the second, backed by strong serving from sophomore Kevin Gallegos (Los Angeles, Calif.).  The Lions then put together a 9-3 run to cut their deficit to 13-12, taking advantage of four Emmanuel attack errors during the stretch.  Emerson was able to knot the contest at 14-all, following a kill from Brendan McGonigle (Los Angeles, Calif.).  A 3-0 Saints' run then pushed the score to 17-14.  The Saints held onto their slight edge down the stretch and consecutive kills from junior outside hitter Drew Jordan (Braintree, Mass.) ended it at 25-21.

The third and final set was a barn-burner throughout, with neither squad ever holding more than a three-point edge.  The lengthy set featured 28 ties before it was over. There were an incredible 18 match-points, with the Saints holding 14 and the Lions four.  With Emmanuel trailing, 40-39, the Saints rattled off three-straight points, including a kill from Garrett McGarry (Chicago, Ill.) and a pair of aces from Sean Baxley (Saint James, N.Y.) to end it at 42-40.

Wingard led the offensive attack for Emmanuel with his 12 kills and six digs.  Senior opposite Ryan Kessler (Santa Clarita, Calif.) swung at a clip of .467 with eight kills in 15 attempts.  Jordan finished with seven kills, while McGarry and Michael Felix (Sylmar, Calif.) notched six apiece.  Baxley dished out 38 assists and Cody Diehl (Derry, N.H.) picked up a match-high 20 digs in the backrow for EC.

Junior outside hitter Jackson Wiley (Los Angeles, Calif.) registered a match-high 25 kills in the effort for the Lions.  Connor Burton (Valencia, Calif.) added 10 kills, while McGonigle handed out 47 helpers.  Ben Hillman (South Pasadena, Calif.) and Jared Gross (Wexford, Pa.) combined for 25 digs defensively for Emerson.

Emmanuel is back in action this Thursday, March 5th, when the Saints head over to Wentworth Institute of Technology for a 7:00 PM contest with the Leopards.  Emerson is off now for spring break and the Lions will return to the court on Thursday, March 19th, when they travel to New Haven, Conn. for a 7:00 PM battle with the Falcons at Albertus Magnus College.