BOSTON – The Lasell College men's volleyball team bounced back from a two-set hole to force a fifth set on Saturday afternoon against Wentworth Institute of Technology in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opener at Tansey Gymnasium, but the Leopards pulled out a 15-11 decision in the final set for the 3-2 victory.

After the two-hour, 15-minute match against Wentworth, the Lasers had to come back and face a 15th-ranked Arcadia University squad which was playing its first match of the day, and the Knights rolled to a 3-0 victory.

Wentworth outlasted Arcadia in the third match of the day (17-15 in the fifth set). Lasell is now 2-4 on the young season (0-1 GNAC), while Wentworth is now 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the GNAC and Arcadia is 9-4.

Wentworth pulled out 25-23 victories in the first two sets against Lasell, but the Lasers came back with 25-23 and 25-19 decisions in the third and fourth sets. The Leopards clinched the match with a 15-11 verdict in set five. Arcadia defeated the Lasers by set scores of 25-23, 25-15 and 25-15.

Sophomore Conor Leary-Watson (Bethany, Conn.) topped the Lasers against Wentworth with 15 kills and a .440 attack percentage (15-4-25). Junior Scott Sterenberg (Oceanside, N.Y.) added nine winners, and senior Andy Henriquez (Lawrence, Mass.) finished with 38 set assists along with five kills.

Sophomore Cobi Moore (Hampstead, N.H.) posted a team-high 17 digs, while senior Jordan Aprea (Newington, Conn.) added 15 digs and six kills. Henriquez and senior Nate Gallo (North Providence, R.I.) chipped in with 11 digs apiece.

Sophomore Brandon Kurina (Marlboro, Mass.) topped the Lasers against Arcadia with six kills, while Leary-Watson added five winners and a .333 attack percentage (5-2-9). Gallo took over setter duties and finished with 17 assists. Aprea topped the teams with 13 digs, and sophomore Dillon DeSouza (Enfield, Conn.) made a team-high three blocks.

Lasell travels to New York City next weekend for a Friday night match at John Jay College and a Saturday tri-match at Hunter College.

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