MEN'S VOLLEYBALL POSTS TWO WINS AT THE MIT SCRAMBLE
April 7, 2012
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - In a highly competitive field featuring four nationally ranked teams, the Emmanuel College men's volleyball team went 2-2 at the MIT Scramble this past weekend. The Saints were able to notch 3-0 wins over Southern Vermont and Bard College. EC dropped a 3-2 decision to #13 Elmira and a 3-1 loss to #8 Medaille. The weekend wraps up the regular season for Emmanuel who now stands at 16-11 overall.
EC started the weekend off with a 3-1 (22-25, 25-18, 26-24, 25-22) loss to #8 Medaille. Freshman outside hitter Ashanti Jackson(Sacramento, Calif.) led the way for the Saints with a team-high 14 kills in the loss.
The Saints would salvage the day with a 3-0 (25-16, 30-28, 25-17) win over Southern Vermont that saw Jackson slam home nine kills while senior middle hitter Tom McCaffrey (Massapequa, N.Y.) and freshman outside hitter Zach Whitermore (Whitehall, Pa.) both added eight kills. Junior setter Nick Updike added 24 assists, seven digs, six kills and four aces in the win.
Day two of the Scramble started out for the Saints with the same result as day one. Emmanuel battled the #13 team in the nation in Elmira College to five sets but ultimately fell, 3-2 (25-18, 27-29, 22-25 25-19, 16-14). Whitermore finished with a team-high 15 kills while Jackson pitched in with 14 winners. McCaffrey added 11 kills and six block assists while Updike dished out 36 assists and a team-high 10 digs.
Emmanuel would end the weekend on a high note, down Bard College 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-16). Whitermore led the way for the Saints with eight kills while Updike registered 29 helpers.
In the rest of the action, nationally-ranked #2 Springfield College swept its way en route to winning the championship of the MIT Men's Volleyball Scramble Tournament on Saturday afternoon. The host MIT Engineers also went undefeated on the weekend but the Pride had the advantage in sets won-lost, 12-0 to 12-4.
All-Tournament
Team Corey Mills, Southern Vermont College
Erin Kelly, Medaille College
Nick Updike, Emmanuel College
Ryan Gelenitis, Elmira College
Matt Hohenberger, MIT
Malcolm Bean, MIT
Angel Perez, Springfield College
Tournament MVP: Greg Falcone, Springfield College
Final Standings
1. Springfield College (4-0, 12-0 sets won-lost)
2. MIT (4-0, 12-4, sets won-lost)
3. Elmira College (3-1)
4. Emmanuel College (2-2, 9-6 sets won-lost)
5. Medaille College (2-2, 7-7 sets won-lost)
6. Southern Vermont College (1-3)
7. Philadelphia Biblical University (0-4, 3-12 sets won-lost)
8. Bard College (0-4, 1-12 sets won-lost)
Emmanuel will return to action on Thursday, April 12 when it hosts a GNAC Semifinal tournament game against the winner of the \#6 Emerson vs. \#3 Johnson & Wales Quarterfinal matchup taking place on Tuesday, April 10 in Providence, R.I. The Saints finished the regular season with a 12-2 GNAC mark to secure the \#2 seed and a first round bye in the GNAC tourney.