SAINTS DROPPED BY LEOPARDS IN FENWAY RIVALRY

(BOSTON, Mass.) The Emmanuel College men's volleyball team was defeated by No. 7 Wentworth Institute of Technology 3-0 (25-19, 25-14, 25-17) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action on Thursday evening at Andy Yosinoff Court. The Saints slip to 8-17 while the win improves the Leopards to 23-6.

The two familiar foes started the night trading points early on. Jon Roat (Macedon, N.Y.) recorded a kill that would open a 4-0 run to make the score 11-7. The Saints followed up with a 3-0 scoring spurt of their own to get back within one. Jake Reed (Arvada, Colo.) strung together two straight kills in the middle of a Leopard 7-2 run that put the Saints out of striking distance for the remainder of the first frame.

Wentworth used the momentum of their first set victory to jet out to an 8-2 run early in the second set.  Manuel Velez (San Jose, Costa Rica) earned an important kill amid a 6-2 run to get the Saints within two. With the score reading 16-12 the Leopards went on a 9-2 set ending tear that included 3 service aces from Roat.

The final stanza opened with the Fenway rivals deadlocked at 12.  The streaky Leopards strung together a 10-3 run to distance the gap.  The Saints were unable to climb back into the match as the closing set wrapped up 25-17.

Reed and Roat led the game with eight and seven kills respectively. Reed was also involved in five blocks along with teammate Mike Hansen (Rochester, N.Y.). Collin Ritter (Feeding Hills, Mass.) tallied a game high 16 assists for the Leopards.

Max Gottuso (Long Beach, N.Y.) recorded a team high five kills for the Saints.  Alex Silva (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) and Manuel Velez (San Jose, Costa Rica) assisted on four blocks a piece.

Emmanuel College will return to action in GNAC postseason action Tuesday.  The details are to be determined as there are still conference contests to be played.