SAINTS WIN THREE MORE IN STRAIGHT-SETS
Feb. 21, 2011
BOSTON, Mass. - The 12th-ranked Emmanuel Men's Volleyball Team picked up a pair of GNAC wins, as well as a non-conference rout over the holiday weekend. The Saints took all three matches in straight sets, defeating Albertus Magnus College and Yeshiva University on Sunday in New Haven, Conn. and then topping cross-town foe Emerson College on Monday night in the Jean Yawkey Center. Emmanuel now stands at 17-4 on the season and 7-1 in GNAC play.
The Saints cruised to a 25-6, 25-7, 25-8 sweep of Albertus Magnus in their Great Northeast Athletic Conference match on Sunday. Emmanuel then upended Yeshiva University, 25-6, 25-7, 25-13 in the second contest of Sunday's tri-match. In the Saints' final match of the long weekend, Emmanuel defeated Emerson College, 3-0 (25-23, 25-14, 25-13).
Emmanuel's senior outside hitter Curtis Abram (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) was honored prior to the start of the Emerson match, as he became the Saints' career kills leader last weekend at the Endicott College Invitational Tournament. Abram has close to 1,400 kills in his four years at Emmanuel and will graduate as the program's all-time leader.
The Saints and the Lions battled back and forth early until a kill by Abram forged a tie at 7-all in the first set. The squads would play to three more ties before a right-side kill by Matt Salvi (Trumbull, Conn.) put Emmanuel up, 15-14. The Saints didn't hold more than a three point lead throughout and an EC serving error gave the Lions a 23-22 edge. Emmanuel then went on a 3-0 run, ending the set with two kills by Abram to take a 25-23 win and a 1-0 match lead.
Emmanuel charged out to a 12-4 lead in the second set after a huge kill by Tyson Rietz (Granite, Bay, Calif.). Emerson kills by Jeff Ackerstein (Santa Barbara, Calif.) and Jacob Bennett (Jull, Mass.) brought the spread to 20-9 in favor of the hosts. Emmanuel earned set point at 24-13, but a dump by Frank O'Sullivan (Ottawa, Ontario) gave the Lions a second chance. However, a kill by Rietz ended the set on Emmanuel's next possession at 25-14.
After an Emerson kill by Eric Doherty (Millis, Mass.), the Saints quickly rebounded and a middle hit by Cam Todd (Los Angeles, Calif.) gave Emmanuel a 17-10 advantage in set three. An ace by Abram and a solo block by Salvi capped a 5-0 Emmanuel run and the Saints led 22-10. An ace by Todd gave match point to the Saints and Emmanuel ended the contest on an Emerson serving error at 25-13.
Abram led the Saints with 12 kills in 18 swings, to go along with his 4 digs and 2 aces. Salvi added 5 kills, while Rietz and Keoni Rabaino (Tucson, Ariz.) each chipped in with 4 kills for the Saints. Rietz also gathered a team-high 5 digs and Jim Sutherland (Concord, Calif.) picked up 4 digs in his one set played. Sophomore setter Nick Updike dished out 27 assists, while totaling 3 kills and 2 aces in the win for Emmanuel.
The Saints will return to action on Wednesday night, when they travel to Mount Ida College to take on the Mustangs in a 7pm start. Emerson, now 4-12 (3-5 GNAC), will also play on Wednesday night, taking on Regis College in a non-conference match in Weston, Mass. at 7pm.