REMARKABLE SEASON COMES TO CLOSE IN NECVA QUARTERFINALS
April 2, 2011
HOBOKEN, N.J. - The Emmanuel College Men's Volleyball Team wrapped up an impressive and record-breaking season in the quarterfinals of the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) Tournament on Saturday afternoon. The 6th-seeded Saints were defeated in four sets by the 3rd-seeded Bearcats of Baruch College. Emmanuel's season comes to a close with a program-best 28 wins and just 9 losses.
The 33-13 Bearcats jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match after taking the first set, 25-16, while posting a .647 hitting percentage in the opening set. Emmanuel responded by tallying 15 kills on 28 swings in a hard-fought 30-28 win in the second, but Baruch again found its rhythm in the third, hitting .435 in a 25-19 triumph. The Bearcats then held the Saints to a .129 attack in the final frame, notching a 25-22 win.
Senior outside hitter Pablo Oliveira (Uberlandia, Brazil) hit .361 with 21 kills to pace the Baruch attack, while fellow senior Eryk Kowalski (Zabno, Poland) and freshman middle blocker Steven Coniglio (Plainview, N.Y.) added 15 and 10 spikes, respectively. Sophomore Jesus Echevarria (San Juan, Puerto Rico) chipped in with a match-high 49 assists and seven digs.
Senior Curtis Abram (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) recorded a team-high 18 kills to lead Emmanuel, while fellow senior Thomas McCaffrey (Massapequa, N.Y.) added nine kills and four blocks. Senior middle Cam Todd (Los Angeles, Calif.) hit .419 with 6 kills in 12 swings, while classmate Keoni Rabaino (Tucson, Ariz.) added 8 kills in the effort. Senior libero Jake DeLuise (Wakefield, R.I.) picked up a match-high eight digs, while sophomore setter Nick Updike tallied 40 helpers and 3 aces for the Saints.
Emmanuel's NECVA quarterfinal appearance was a program-first for the record-setting Saints. Baruch College will advance to take on the GNAC Champion Raiders of Rivier College in one of Saturday's semifinal contests, beginning at 4pm.