AURORA, N.Y. – The Lasell College men's volleyball team dropped its first two matches in the Wells College Tournament Friday evening at the Schwartz Athletic Center, falling to Daemen College and host Wells College in a pair of three-set matches.
Daemen, from Amherst, N.Y., took the opening match against Lasell by scores of 25-15, 25-19 and 25-18, and Wells defeated the Lasers by scores of 25-12, 25-14 and 25-16. Lasell completed the evening with an overall record of 5-9, while Daeman is now 4-9 and Wells is 13-6.
The six-team tournament continues on Saturday with another round of matches. Lasell will meet up against SUNY Purchase at noon and SUNY Purchase at 2 p.m.
Daemen 3, Lasell 0
Sophomore Aaron Waitekus (Norwood, Mass.) led the Lasers with six kills, while senior David Anthony (Cranston, R.I.) and sophomore Dillon DeSouza (Enfield, Conn.) added four kills each. DeSouza also contributed two blocks, and senior Nate Gallo (North Providence, R.I.) made 18 set assists.
Gallo and senior Jordan Aprea (Newington, Conn.) led the Lasers with five digs apiece.
The Lasers trailed 9-8 in the first set when Daemen won seven of the next eight points to open up a 16-9 margin. Lasell couldn't recover and the Wildcats went on to a 25-15 triumph. A five-point rally in the second set pushed Laemen to a 16-9 lead before taking the set, 25-19. The Wildcats took an early advantage in the third set and led wire-to-wire to close out the match.
Wells 3, Lasell 0
Waitekus, DeSouza and sophomore Conor Leary-Watson (Bethany, Conn.) shared team-high honors against the Express with four kills apiece, with Gallo equaling his performance in the first match with 18 set assists. Waitekus made two blocks, and the Lasers had just 14 digs as a team, led by Waitekus and Anthony with three each.
After the teams split the first six points of the first set, Wells won four in a row to take the lead for good. The Lasers stayed within striking distance before a five-point surge by the Express extended the margin to nine points (16-7), and Wells went on to the 25-12 victory.
Lasell had an early 4-3 lead in the second set before Wells won five points in a row for an 8-4 margin. The Express didn't relinquish their advantage and took the set, 25-14. Wells pulled ahead 8-3 in the third set and Lasell couldn't come back before the Express finished off the evening with a 25-16 decision.
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