Newton, Mass.- The Saints of Emmanuel College took the Lasers three sets to one in tonight's men's volleyball matchup. After two close sets that the Saints came away with 30-28 and 30-26, Lasell took over the third set for a 30-28 win. The Lasers looked to take control of the fourth set early on, but the Saints pushed for a match victory, closing the set 30-24.
Lasell appeared in charge of the first set to start, however, the Saints would not let up and kept the game within only a few points. Emmanuel took their first lead at 15-14 off back to back aces by Brian Anderson (Akron, OH), leaving the Lasers trailing from that point on, until a kill to deep center from outside attacker Mike Harrington (Billerica, Mass.) brought Lasell right back into the game. Lasell's defense, led all evening by Joe Lipski (Burlington, Conn.), Andy Cass (Wakefield, RI), and Brendan McGourn (Southington, Conn.), played scrappy providing the opportunity for the Lasers to tie the game at 25-all. Points went back and forth off service errors before the Saints went up 27-29 for game point. Cass skillfully used Emmanuel's blockers hands to his advantage to pick up a kill off their touch, while also stopping the Saints from finishing the set. Unfortunately, a final service error by the Lasers sealed game one for the visitors.
Emmanuel controlled the second frame from the onset, going up 11-20 before the Lasers chipped their way back in. Trevor Foster (Ashford, Conn.) went a perfect 5 for 5 at the net, and picked up one solo block for the Lasers, but was Curtis Abram (San Luis Obispo, CA) who hit a .556 clip in the set, and put down 6 kills for the Saints, that finished the game and put the Saints up 2 games to none.
The Saints came out in game three looking to put the match away, but the resilient Lasers would not give up. After coming back from an early five point deficit, the Lasers tied the game at 8-all after a beautiful block by Dave Rogers (Belchertown, Mass.) and Dan Rogers (Belchertown, Mass.). The Lasers then went on a run to go up 15-10 before Emmanuel came back to gain a slight advantage at 21-20. After a service ace by Cass put them ahead for good, the Lasers closed out the set with McGourn setting up a back row attack by Dustin Foster (Ashford, Conn.) for a game point kill.
In the final round of the evening, Lasell stuck near the Saints but did not take the lead. Emmanuel finished the game with a five point streak that ended with back to back kills by Abram. Keoni Rabaino (Tucson, AZ) and Alexander Petty (Wayland, Mass.) hit 100% on four for four attempts, while Michael Townsend (Beaverdam, VA) picked up five kills to lead for the Saints in the set.
Townsend had a standout night with 17 kills, seven kills and two aces, and Abrams pitched in 14 kills, 12 digs, and 3 aces. Emmanuel's sophomore setter Sean O'Connor (Hampstead, NH) collected 49 assists through the four sets.
Lasell was lead by Matt Roberts (Agawam, Mass.) who put down 12 kills and picked up 8 digs over the course of the match. Cass was a close second with 11 kills and 8 digs, and McGourn was strong all-around with 39 assists, 6 kills, 9 digs, and 2 service aces.
Emmanuel now stands at 5-3 overall, while remaining undefeated in the GNAC at 4-0. Lasell evens out at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
The Lasers are back in action on Thursday, February 5th at the University of New Haven, with a 7:00 start.