CAMBRIDGE, MA- Alex Mill (Danville, NH) was selected to the MIT Men's Volleyball Invitational All-Tournament team for his efforts leading Lasell College to a third place finish over the weekend. The Lasers went 2-2 overall, defeating Lancaster Bible, 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-18), and New Haven, 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-22), on Saturday after taking losses from Endicott, 3-2 (18-25, 18-25, 25-22, 25-15, 7-15), and no. 13 MIT, 3-1 (17-25, 27-25, 23-25, 13-25), on Friday evening.
The Lasers started the weekend with a five set intense clash against the Gulls of Endicott on Friday night. The Lasers rebounded from losses in the first two sets (25-18, 25-18) and returned to secure the third and fourth set (25-22, 25-15) to push a deciding game. The Gulls outlasted Lasell, 15-7, in the final frame.
Facing the hosts, and national top 15 program, in the second match of the evening Lasell forced four sets against the Engineers. The Lasers came back from a 25-17 defeat in the first game to win 27-25 in the second. MIT sealed a close two point margin, 25-23, in the third before capping the match 25-13 in the fourth.
On Saturday, Lasell swept both matches, easily topping Lancaster Bible for the first time this season and then taking down New Haven for the second time this year.
Over the course of four matches, Mill produced phenomenal numbers, making 39 kills on 65 attempts with just four errors in the course of play (53.8%). The sophomore outside hitter averaged 2.6 kills per set and also led defensively with 2.26 digs per set. Mill also recorded his first career double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs against national leader MIT, hitting 39.1% throughout the four sets.
Mill also notched double-figures in the kill column against New Haven, going 11-2-18 (50%) with seven digs and two blocks, and against Endicott, adding 11 kills on 16 attempts (68.8%) with six digs and two blocks. In the three set match against Lancaster, Mill went 6-for-8 hitting (75%) and picked up seven digs and two service aces.
Freshman setter Andrew Glenn (Westport, CT) also recorded outstanding numbers over the weekend, dishing out 158 assists in 15 sets, averaging 10.5 helpers per game. Glenn also added 23 digs and three blocks.
Spencer Parker (Newington, CT) hit double-digits in kills in all four matches, collecting 18 against Endicott, 12 against MIT, and 10 against both Lancaster and New Haven. Parker additionally chipped in with 17 digs and nine blocks.
Other highlights at the invitational were presented by Harry Strobel (Westport, CT) and Micah Aiu (Honolulu, HI). Strobel put away 10 kills and five digs against Endicott, seven kills against MIT, eight kills against Lancaster, and 12 kills against New Haven. Aiu added five kills against Endicott, seven kills and four digs against MIT, went 8-for-16 against Lancaster, and collected four kills against New Haven.
The Lasers record stands at 13-12 currently as they return to Great Northeast Athletic Conference action on Monday, March 7th at Mount Ida College. The Lasers and the Mustangs will face off at 7:00 p.m.