SAINTS DROP FOURTH STRAIGHT AGAINST RIVIER

THE BASICS 

Score: Rivier University, 3; Emmanuel College, 0 (25-21, 25-18, 26-24)
Records: Rivier University Raiders (16-6, GNAC 7-0); Emmanuel College Saints (7-12, GNAC 2-4)
Location: Boston, Mass. – Andy Yosinoff Court
Date: Thursday, March 22^nd, 2018

THE LEAD: Despite late set runs, the Emmanuel College Men's Volleyball team was taken down by Great Northeast Athletic Conference foe Rivier University, led by the offensive attack of senior outside hitter Grant Andler (Chicago, Ill.), in three straight sets, (25-21, 25-18, 26-24), Thursday evening in men's volleyball action on the Andy Yosinoff Court.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

SET 1

• The Raiders were the first on the board as senior outside hitter Andler recorded the first kill of the evening, assisted by senior setter Garrett Bucklin (Jamestown, R.I).
• Rivier was able to keep the lead, extending it to four with Emmanuel down 8-4, before the Saints were able to close the lead with back to back kills by junior middle hitter Alex Silva (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) and junior opposite hitter Kevin Orsley (San Jose, Calif.), 11-8.
• The match remained in the Raiders favor as Rivier went on a 8-4 run, highlighted by two kills by Cam Roth (Coventry, R.I) and Dashaun Graham (Highland Falls, N.Y), 19-12.
• The Saints went on a six point run late in the set to close the lead to one, but Rivier was able to close out the set on a 4-1 run of their own to take the first set, 25-21.

SET 2

• Much like the first set, the Raiders come out of the break scoring the first point of the set and then going on a 7-3 run, led by two kills by Graham and a service ace by Bucklin.
• The Saints closed the lead as Manuel Velez (San Jose, Costa Rica), Orsley and Silva all recorded kills, down, 14-11.
• Rivier's offensive attack began to pick up towards the end of the set, with Roth registering two late set kills and a kill by Andler to take the set, 25-18.

SET 3

• Rivier continued their offensive attack into the third set, taking a quick 7-1 lead highlighted by three kills by junior middle hitter Khaynen Yocca (Pittsburgh, Pa.) before the Saints went on a 10-4 run to tie the game at 11 apiece.
• The Saints continued to produce offensively, taking their first lead of the match at 11-10 and holding on to the lead as Orsley recorded a late set kill for the Saints, 20-18.
• The Raiders were able to score back to back points on kills by Graham and David Smith (Clinton, Ohio) to tie the game, 20-20.
• Both teams battled back and forth, but Rivier University was able to take the final set, 26-24, finished off by an assisted block by Roth and Graham and a kill by Andler.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

• Andler recorded a match-high 14 kills, along with five digs, a service ace and an assisted block for the Raiders.
• Orsley and English both recorded a team-high seven kills, along with a combined 15 digs and two blocks for the Saints.
• The Saints were able to record a team .124 kill percentage with 29 total kills, while the Raiders recorded a .236 kill percentage on 49 total kills.

UP NEXT

• Rivier will be hosting a GNAC tri-match this Saturday, March 24^th at 11AM against Regis College and Wentworth Institute of Technology.
• Emmanuel heads on the road on Saturday, March 24^th to Emerson College for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference tri-match against the Emerson College Lions and Mount Ida Mustangs at 11AM.