Lasers' Updates 01/21/2009
Men's Basketball
The Lasers remain unbeaten in 2009 as they took home two more GNAC
conference wins this week over Emmanuel and Mount Ida College.
Lasell is now the only GNAC team that is undefeated in the
conference, at 7-0.
The Lasers beat the Emmanuel College Saints (3-4 GNAC), 75-61, on Saturday, taking down the team that was ranked first in the pre-season coaches' poll this year. The Lasers started out the first half slow, yet they broke for halftime with a 37-29 advantage.
Following the break, the Lasers put the game away. Jose Guitian (Miami, FL) had a game-best 22 points to go along with 14 rebounds and five assists, followed by Brad Caravoulias (Dracut, Mass.) who had 17 points, 4 boards, and 3 assists. Kevin Richard (New Orleans, LA) was credited with 10 points and 6 assists, and Kevin Fallon (Manasquan, NJ) netted an additional nine for the Lasers.
When Mount Ida visited Lasell on Monday night, the Lasers once again got off to a sluggish start. The Mustangs (0-6 GNAC) tied the score up five times and saw the lead change hands six times in the opening stanza. The Lasers found themselves up seven points at halftime, then came out and rallied in the second half.
Caravoulias hit 4 of 4 attempts from downtown in the opening minutes to send the Lasers on an early run from which the Mustangs never recovered. Junior Charles Horton (Worcester, Mass.) and Fallon each dropped in three more trey's for the home team, while Guitian led both teams with 25 points, 15 rebounds, 5 assists, 6 blocks, and two steals.
Guitian was also named to this week's D3Hoops.com Team of the Week, which recognizes the top performances nationally at each of the five positions from the previous week. He also received Co-Player of the Week honors from the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. Guitian averaged 22.5 points and 12 rebounds per game, while also producing a 5.5 assist/turnover ratio and shooting 100% from the free throw line last week to be awarded with these honors.
This is Guitian's third time being recognized as Player of the Week by the GNAC, and first time by D3Hoops.com Team of the Week so far this season.
Guitian, who is ranked 9th in the NCAA national rankings in rebounds per game (averaging 11.5), consistently proves himself to be worthy of the recognition. After breaking Lasell's All-Time Career Rebounding record on January 10th, Guitian is now just six points away from joining the charmed circle of those who hit 1,500 career points, and just 91 points away from setting the new All Time Career Points record at Lasell College.
The Lasers will play in non-conference action on Thursday, January 22nd at 7:00 p.m. against Keene State College at home, and then travel to Emerson College on Saturday, January 24th for a 1:00 p.m. GNAC matchup.
Women's Basketball
The Laser women went 1-2 this week, including an exciting one point victory at Saint Joseph's College (CT). Shauna Kelly (Quincy, Mass.) hit a free throw with 3.9 seconds on the clock to secure a 65-64 win over the Blue Jays. The win gave the Lasers their second GNAC win and boosted their overall record to 5-10.
Kelly finished the St. Joe's game with 16 points and 13 rebounds, including 8 offensive boards. Kelly is ranked 3rd in the GNAC for points per game, averaging 17.2, and is now ranked 10th in rebounds with 6.8 per game, and 5th in offensive rebounds per game, with 3.7 per game.
Producing a team-best for Lasell against the Blue Jays was Tricia Culver (N. Hampton, Mass.). The junior forward put in 18 points and rebounded 7 balls. Katie Farr (Rindge, NH) dropped in 14 and 6 rebounds, and JoAnna Bishop (S. Burlington, VT) added 10 grabs off the glass.
Earlier in the week, the Lasers dropped a non-conference game to Curry College, 67-54, on the road. Culver and Kelly each gave 14 point performances, good for game-high's. First year Amanda Driscoll (Roslindale, Mass.) went 9-10 from the line and picked up 11 total points for the Lasers, while also contributing 6 boards, and Farr added seven points, going 7-8 on free throws.
Heading back into conference action last night, the Lasers played a tight contest with the Lions of Emerson College. The Lasers went up by as much as eight in the first half, before the Lions came back to tie the game with three minutes remaining in the half. Holding the Lasers scoreless over the final two minutes, the Lions had a three point edge at the break.
After the intermission, the Lasers kept close with the Lions until with ten minutes to go, Emerson ran away with a significant lead, and finished the game winning, 83-68.
Kelly and Culver once again were forces for the Lasers, with 18 and 17 points respectively and a combined 18 rebounds. Farr also netted 11 points and picked up 7 more boards, and Kelsey Converse (Laconia, NH) recorded a game and personal career high 8 assists in the matchup.
The Lasers return to action on Saturday, January 24th at Pine Manor College. Tip-off is 12:00 p.m.
Men's Volleyball
The Lasell College men's volleyball team comes into the 2009 season ranked 4th in the GNAC after coming off a 13-18 overall and 4-7 NECVA New England Division season in 2008. The Lasers have ten veteran athletes returning to the squad this season, who along with three new additions should be extremely competitive in the GNAC Division, and the NECVA conference.
Gary Gay (Belchertown, Mass.) returns for his senior season to the setter position after setting the all-time record for assists in a season (992) and moving to ranked second in all-time career assists at Lasell. Gay averaged 9.36 assists per set in the 2008 season, as well as 1.25 digs per set.
Fellow senior Joe Lipski (Burlington, Conn.) will also return as the team's libero this year. Lipski was the Lasers leading defender after finishing 2008 season with 288 dug balls, averaging 2.97 per game, placing him in a three-way tie at 14th in the country in digs per game. Lipski is second all time in digs at Lasell, with 616 total.
Returning to the Lasers' attack line will be senior outside hitter David Rogers (Belchertown, Mass.), junior outside Andy Cass (Wakefield, Mass.), junior middle Dustin Foster (Ashford, Conn.), sophomore middle Dan Rogers (Belchertown, Mass.), and sophomore right side Matt Roberts (Agawam, Mass.).
Foster and Cass led the team offensively last season with 238 and 237 kills respectively. Foster hit a .320 clip and also led the team in blocks with 60 combined solo and assisted blocks. Cass added 22 sevice aces, 201 digs (1.97 per set), and 19 total blocks for Lasell.
Dan Rogers picked up 2.09 kills per set for 211 total kills in the 2008 season, good for third on the team, while David Rogers finished with 169 kills and 1.88 per set. Dan Rogers was also second on the team in blocks, with 36 solo and 4 assisted, averaging .40 blocks per set, while David Rogers collected 131 digs in the season and 24 aces. Playing opposite, Roberts put down 40 kills on 117 attempts last season.
Outsides Tyler Hammond (Hadley, Mass.), Wes Sackman (Sands Point, NY), and middle hitter Mike Harrington (Billerica, Mass.) are also veterans who will contribute in the 2009 season. Hammond finished second on the team in digs per game last season, averaging 2.00 per set. He finished the season with 114 digs, as well as 50 kills, 8 blocks, and 8 aces. Harrington finished last season with 57 kills and 11 blocks.
Adding to the Lasers' core this year will be first year setter's Zack Smith (Agawam, Mass.) and Brendan McGourn (Southington, Conn.) and middle Trevor Foster (Ashford, Conn.). Head Coach Jonah Mytros will be entering his fifth season at the helm for the Lasers, and will be aided this season by Associate Head Coach Tom Olson and Assistant Coach Scott Penna.
The Lasers open the 2009 season at home on Friday, January 23rd at 7:00 p.m. when they take on NECVA New England opponent MIT.
UPCOMING GAMES:
Thursday, January 22nd- men's basketball vs. Keene State 7:00 p.m.
Friday, January 23rd- men's volleyball vs. MIT, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 24th - Men's basketball @ Emerson, 1:00 p.m.
- Women's basketball @ Pine Manor 12:00 p.m.
- Men's volleyball @ Johnson & Wales 1:00 p.m.