SAINTS BATTLE BACK TO NIP NO. 14 WENTWORTH, 3-2
BOSTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College pulled off a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men’s volleyball action played in the Jean Yawkey Center on Tuesday night. The Saints improve to 6-8 on the season and an even 4-4 in GNAC play with the win. The Leopards, who were ranked 14th in this week’s American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) national poll, saw their five-match win streak come to an end and drop to 18-5 overall and 7-2 in the conference with the loss.
BOSTON, Mass. – Emmanuel College pulled off a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Wentworth Institute of Technology in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's volleyball action played in the Jean Yawkey Center on Tuesday night. The Saints improve to 6-8 on the season and an even 4-4 in GNAC play with the win. The Leopards, who were ranked 14th in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) national poll, saw their five-match win streak come to an end and drop to 18-5 overall and 7-2 in the conference with the loss.
Wentworth jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the host Saints, defeating Emmanuel handily, 25-12 and 25-17, in the opening sets. Emmanuel battled back to take 25-23 and 25-20 wins in the third and fourth sets, forcing a decisive fifth set, in which the Saints pulled out an intense 15-11 win. Emmanuel now leads the all-time series with Wentworth, 21-4.
Senior captain Ashanti Jackson (Sacramento, Calif.) slammed down a match and season-high 22 kills, including four in the fifth set, to lead the way for the Saints. Classmate and co-captain Zach Whitermore (Whitehall, Pa.) found the floor nine times and gathered 13 digs. Junior libero Kevin Gallegos (Los Angeles, Calif.) also notched 13 digs to lead EC's backrow. Senior setter Sean Baxley (Wakefield, R.I.) dished out a match-high 44 assists, including the 1,500th of his collegiate career, which occurred in the last couple plays of the night.
Wentworth was led by a trio of hitters in double-figures. Sophomore middle Alex Potts (Niverville, N.Y.) tallied a team-high 12 kills, seven block assists and three aces. Rookie Jon Roat (Macedon, N.Y.) and sophomore Jake Reed (Arvada, Colo.) recorded 11 kills apiece, while sophomore setter Collin Ritter (Feeding Hills, Mass.) handed out 40 helpers. Sophomore Mike Hansen (Rochester, N.Y.) was a huge presence at the net with his match-high nine block assists.
The Saints will return to the court this Thursday, when they travel to Providence, R.I. for a rematch with Johnson & Wales University. Start time with the Wildcats is set for 7:00 PM. The Leopards will host JWU and Emerson College in a GNAC Tri-match on Saturday at 11:00 AM.