NEWTON, Mass. – After winning a five-set match earlier this season, Wentworth Institute of Technology needed just three sets to defeat Lasell College Thursday evening, 3-0, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match at the Lasell Athletic Center.

The Lasers gave the Leopards a tough challenge, falling by set scores of 25-20, 25-23 and 25-23. Wentworth improves to 15-9 overall and 8-2 in the GNAC while Lasell drops to 12-13 overall and 6-5 in conference play.

The Leopards got 10 kills apiece from juniors Ryan Love (Gaithersburg, Md.) and Xhuljo Zyba (Holbrook, Mass.), as Love hit with a .364 attack percentage and Zybe at a .304 clip. Classmate Scott Skarzynski (Webster, N.Y.) added eight kills with a .417 attack percentage. Sophomore Peter Klembczyk (Penfield, N.Y.) posted a team-high 10 digs, and junior Augusto Rodrigues-Guerrios (San Juan, P.R.) and freshman Connor Adams (Budd Lake, N.J.) combined for 36 assists.

Sophomore Conor Leary-Watson (Bethany, Conn.) topped the home team with seven kills and a .750 attack percentage (7-1-8), while junior Janci Soto (Lawrence, Mass.) contributed five kills. Senior Jordan Aprea (Newington, Conn.) made a team-high 10 digs, and classmate Andy Henriquez (Lawrence, Mass.) was good for 22 assists.

The first set was tied several times early on, and was a two or three-point score most of the way. Wentworth led 20-18 before winning five of the next six points before closing out the set, 25-20. The second set was similar, a one or two-point lead for either team most of the whole way. Wentworth was ahead 21-19 and won three of the next four points to go up 24-20. Lasell came back with three in a row to make it interesting, but a kill by Skarzynsky finished off the set for the Leopards.

Lasell had a lead much of the third set, leading by as many as five points, 15-10, before Wentworth battled back to tie the score at 20-20. It was tied again as 21-all, 22-all and 23-all before a pair of kills by freshman Drew Potter (Towson, Md.) clinched the victory for the Leopards.

The Lasers are home again on Tuesday, April 2, hosting #2-ranked Springfield College at 7 p.m. Wentworth plays a GNAC tri-match this Saturday, March 30, at Emerson College (11 a.m.) with Emmanuel College (1 p.m.)

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