SAINTS SPLIT IN TRI-MATCH AT SUNY NEW PALTZ
Feb. 16, 2008
New Paltz, NY - The Emmanuel College Men's Volleyball Team traveled to New Paltz, New York over the weekend for a non-conference tri-match. The Saints were defeated in straight sets by SUNY-New Paltz, but bounced back to knock off New Jersey City University, 3-1, in the nightcap. The Saints downed the Gothic Knights in 4 close games, 30-27, 24-30, 30-26, and 31-29. In the competitive match, four games were decided by a total of 15 points. There were seven ties in game one and eight ties and four lead changes in game three.
In game one, the frame was tied 24-24, and remained tight at 26-25 after a NJCU kill, but a Cameron Todd (Los Angeles, CA) winner and an NJCU error gave the Saints a 28-25 lead. Emmanuel's rookie middle Keoni Rabaino (Tucson, AZ) won the game with a kill. NJCU never trailed in game two and took the six-point win (24-30). Game three was knotted at 25-25, before the Saints ran off five of the final six points to take a 2-1 match lead. Freshman outside hitter Curtis Abram (San Luis Obispo, CA) had three kills during the late run.
In game four, Emmanuel led 15-9, but NJCU slowly chipped away at the deficit, drawing within one at 24-23. The Saints pulled back in front by four, 28-24, but NJCU scored five of the next six points to force a 29-29 tie on one of two aces by freshman outside hitter AJ Safavi (Fair Lawn, NJ). Emmanuel again received a kill from Rabaino to gain a final lead and won the match on an NJCU attack error.
The Saints had four players reach double figures in kills, led by Abram with 17 kills, 10 digs, and 4 blocks. Freshman middle blocker Cameron Todd had 12 kills and hit .375 in the win. Emmanuel's senior opposite Brendan Ellis (Chelmsford, MA) chipped in 11 digs and 11 kills, while Rabaino tallied 10 kills. Sophomore setter Taylor Lowe (Malibu, CA) dished 28 assists. Freshman setter Sean O'Connor (Hampstead, NH) chipped in with 19 assists and freshman libero Jacob DeLuise (Wakefield, RI) totaled a team-high 14 digs for the Saints.
As a team, New Jersey City tallied 17.5 blocks--six solo and 23 assisted--the second time this year that the Knights have posted at least 15 blocks as a team, despite a starting line-up that averages just 5-foot-10. And it was NJCU's shortest starting hitter who had a career match, as Edra, a 5-foot-6 rookie, pounded a career-high 19 kills while hitting .273, along with 7 digs. Freshman outside hitter Marley Pena-Guzman (Atlanta, GA) added 14 kills and hit .200 in the setback.
Emmanuel improved to 8-7 with this win and remain undefeated in conference play at 3-0. The Saints are back in action on Tuesday night (2/19), when they travel to Cambridge, MA to take on the Engineers of MIT in a 7pm start.