NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell College men's volleyball team played its first home matches of the season Saturday afternoon at the Athletic Center, but dropped both encounters to MIT (3-1) and Eastern Mennonite University (3-0).

The Lasers took the first set against MIT, 25-23, but the visitors came back to sweep the next three sets, 25-22, 25-11 and 25-19. Lasell gave EMU a battle in the opening set, falling 29-27, but the Royals took the next two sets by scores of 25-19 and 25-14. MIT, which defeated Eastern Mennonite, 3-2, in the middle match of the day, improves to 12-2 on the season while EMU is now 16-7 and Lasell drops to 2-14.

Freshman Conor Leary-Watson (Bethany Conn.) led the Lasers in the match against MIT, recording 12 kills, while sophomore Scott Sterenberg (Oceanside, N.Y.) chipped in with eight winners and sophomore Janci Soto (Lawrence, Mass.) added six kills and four blocks. Junior libero Jordan Aprea (Newington, Conn.) collected 19 digs in the setback, and junior setter Andy Henriquez (Lawrence, Mass.) psted 31 assists.

Lasell had a .225 attack percentage in the first set, but MIT proved too strong, hitting .250 and .267 in the third and fourth sets.

Leary-Watson topped the Lasers again in the match against EMU, recording seven kills and a .500 attack percentage (7-2-10), while Soto and freshman Aaron Waitekus (Norwood, Mass.) contributed five kills apiece. Aprea was good was a team-high seven digs and Henriquez registered four kills and 25 assists.

Lasell hit .500 as a team in the first set (18-2-32) but managed just 15 kills in the second and third sets combined.

Lasell will be home again on Tuesday, March 6, hosting Eastern Nazarene College in a non-conference match at 7:00 p.m. 

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