Men's Volleyball Falls to Nationally Ranked Competition in Springfield Tri-Match

Men's Volleyball Falls to Nationally Ranked Competition in Springfield Tri-Match

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (2/27/16) – The Lasell College men's volleyball team dropped two 3-0 decisions to No. 9 Vassar College and No. 1 Springfield College Saturday afternoon at the Blake Arena in a non-conference tri-match.. The loss drops the Lasers to 9-9 overall, while Springfield climbs to 19-1 and Vassar shifts to 12-4.

In game one, the Brewers took the Lasers in a 25-21, 25-22, and 25-7 straight set victory. Ranked at No. 9 in the latest AVCA poll, Vassar used 47 kills on a .488 swinging percentage to rack up 58 points to the Lasers' 38.

Junior Patrick MacDonald (Floral Park, N.Y.) and senior Ryan Jackson (Canton, Ohio) led the attack for Lasell with eight kills apiece, while MacDonald jumped up on two blocks for 10.5 points.  Senior setter Andrew Glenn (Westport, Conn.) threw out 25 assists in the effort.

Three Brewers hit in double figures in kills with Reno Kriz leading the charge with 11 kills on 20 attempts for a .500 hitting percentage. Matthew Knigge followed on an impressive .692 percentage, hitting into 10 kills on 13 attempts with an additional service ace. Brian Manley followed with 10 kills of his own, while setter Zechariah Lee dished out a match-high 36 helpers.

The No. 1 ranked Pride of Springfield College grabbed their second win of the afternoon on a 25-14, 25-19, and 25-12 match victory against the Lasers. Nearly doubling the kills category 40-25, the Pride posted a .559 hitting percentage with 22 digs and 12 blocks for 54.5 total points.

MacDonald kept pace for Lasell as in the first match with eight kills and a service ace for 9 of Lasell's 29 points. Jackson joined junior Tristan Davis (Rochester, N.Y.) for six kills apiece, while Glenn added 17 assists.

Jason Weedon used a .526 hitting percentage and 12 kills to add 13.5 points in Springfield's triumph. Greg Woods added 13.5 points of his own from 10 kills, two service aces and two blocks, while setter Mike Neary assisted 34 Pride points.

The Lasers return to Great Northeast Athletic Conference action in their next contest as they face the Falcons of Albertus Magnus on Tuesday, March 1 with first serve set for 7:00 p.m. in New Haven, Conn.