SAINTS WRAP CONFERENCE PLAY WITH WIN OVER LIONS
March 25, 2009
BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel Men's Volleyball Team took care of Emerson in three sets on Tuesday night in the Saints' last conference match of the regular season. The Saints survived a second set scare from the Lions, but Emmanuel held on to pick up its 9th Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) win. The 3-0 decision at Emerson's Brown-Plofker Gym improved Emmanuel's ledger to 17-11, while Emerson dropped to 4-13 overall and 2-9 in league play.
The Saints took the first set by a 30-19 count, but were pushed to the brink in the second game, rallying to earn a 32-30 decision. Emmanuel grabbed a 30-22 victory in the third and final set. Emmanuel's freshman Michael Delsignore (Narragansett, R.I.) set the tone early in the first game on Emmanuel's first service. Following a kill by the Saints' Alexander Petty (Wayland, Mass.) to open the match, Delsignore served four consecutive aces to give Emmanuel a 5-0 lead. Emerson pulled back to within 10-13 on a service ace by Dean Dimitruk (Philadelphia, Pa.), but a Petty Kill stemmed the comeback and the Lions were never able to get any closer. A kill by freshman Michael Mottola (Quincy, Mass.) scored the final point for the Saints.
The second game was close throughout as the teams posted eight ties within the first nine points. Emmanuel grabbed an 11-9 lead, but Emerson scored the next four points to go up 13-11. The Lions were able to keep the margin at 15-13, when Emmanuel went on a five point run highlighted by four consecutive service points from Mottola. A 5-2 run by Emerson tied the game at 20. The teams then exchange points on eight straight serves for a 24-24 deadlock. Emerson forged a 28-24 lead on a service error and two attack errors by the Saints. A kill by Emerson's freshman Jeff Ackerstein (Newton, Mass.) was included in the run.
An attack error by Emerson was followed by Emmanuel kills by Petty and Delsignore. Emerson took a 29-28 lead on a net violation, but an attack error tied the score at 29-all. A Petty kill was followed by a kill by Emerson's Frank O'Sullivan (Ottawa, Ontario) to knot the game at 30. A successful attack by Emmanuel's sophomore setter Sean O'Connor (Hampstead, N.H.), followed by another Petty kill gave the Saints a 32-30 victory.
Emerson came out strong in the third set, taking a quick 5-1 lead off an Ackerstein kill followed by four Ackerstein serves. Emmanuel rallied to tie the game at 7-7 and neither team was able to gain more than a one-point advantage until Emmanuel took a 16-14 lead on a service ace by Petty. Three consecutive service errors made the score 18-16. Three consecutive service points by Mottola opened a five point Emmanuel lead, and though the Lions closed to within three points on three different occasions, Emmanuel held on to take the match with a 30-22 final set score.
For the Saints, Petty led the way with 11 kills and 5 blocks. Sophomore Cameron Todd (Los Angeles, Calif.) added 10 kills and 3 blocks. Delsignore chipped in with 9 kills and 6 digs. O'Connor dished out 38 assists, while senior Brian Anderson (Akron, Ohio) gathered a team-high 13 digs in the win.
The Saints will play on Saturday (3/28) in the GNAC Tournament, hosted by top-seeded Rivier College in Nashua, N.H. Tournament play begins with Rivier taking on Johnson & Wales University at 12pm. Emmanuel will play Lasell College at 2pm. The two winners will vie for the GNAC Championship at 4pm. Emmanuel's final home match of the regular season will be next Tuesday night (3/31), when the Saints host the Leopards of Wentworth Institute of Technology in an 8pm start. Emmanuel's Brian Anderson, the lone senior on the squad, will be honored prior to the start of the match.