MARCY, N.Y. – Junior setter Jesus Garcia finished with a combined 47 assists and 14 digs for the Lasell University men's volleyball team in a pair of losses to Nazareth, 3-1, and St. John Fisher, 3-0, on Friday at the SUNY Poly Invitational in the Wildcat Field House.

Junior Brenden Joyce and freshman Jordan Shinaut each tallied 22 kills in the two matches for the Lasers (0-4).  Nazareth improved to 5-0 on the season with the win over Lasell, while St. John Fisher sits at 4-0.

FIRST MATCH (Nazareth 3, Lasell 1):

The Golden Flyers raced out a 16-8 lead in the first set. The Lasers countered with a 7-2 surge, starting and ending with kills by Shinaut, as Lasell cut the deficit down to 18-15. A kill by Nate Allen clinched a 25-19 opening-set triumph for Nazareth.

The Lasers scored the first three points of the second set, and then a kill by freshman outside hitter Theo Zaharewicz, assisted by Garcia, gave Lasell a 7-4 advantage. Neither team held a lead larger than six points in the second. Nazareth grinded out a 25-20 win with the game-clinching kill coming from Antonio Sargent.

Lasell answered back in the third set, as the Lasers built their largest lead at 12-7 on a service ace by Shinaut. Down the stretch, the Lasers fought off three game points for the Flyers and sealed a 29-27 victory on back-to-back service points by sophomore outside hitter Ryan Fuller.

Nazareth built a 7-2 cushion in the fourth set, and then Lasell responded with an 11-4 run, taking a 13-11 advantage on a kill by Shinaut. Nazareth scored four of the last five points in the set to clinch the match with a 25-23 victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

In his collegiate debut, Shinaut recorded a match-high 15 kills for the Lasers, while Garcia led the team with 30 assists and his 11 digs were tied for the most in the match. Joyce chipped in with 12 kills.

Leading the way for Nazareth were Sargent (14 kills, 10 digs) and Owen Wickens (7 kills, 11 digs).

SECOND MATCH (St. John Fisher 3, Lasell 0):

A kill by Matt Beiter gave the Cardinals a 16-6 lead in the first set. St. John Fisher took the opening set, 25-14, with a game-clinching kill by Jake Baker.

After falling behind, 9-6, in the second set, a kill by Shinaut brought the Lasers even at 13-13. Lasell tied the score twice in the set, but was never able to take lead as the Cardinals earned a 25-21 victory.

In the final set, Lasell gained a 6-5 lead on a kill by Joyce, assisted from Garcia. A service ace by Gavin Newman gave Fisher a 7-6 lead. The Cardinals never trailed the rest of the way and secured the match with a 25-19 third-set win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

Joyce recorded 10 kills and has reached double figures in the category during all four matches this season. Garcia finished with 17 assists and Shinaut contributed with seven kills and five digs, while junior libero Rande Monahan recorded six digs.

Baker posted a match-high 19 kills for the Cardinals.

UP NEXT:

The Lasers will conclude competition at the SUNY Poly Invitational Saturday with matches against Wells and Elmira at 3 and 5 p.m., respectively.

Director of Athletic Communications Trevor Wenners can be reached at twenners@lasell.edu.

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