Jan. 20, 2011

Box Score

BOSTON, Mass. - The Emmanuel College Men's Volleyball Team cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Mustangs of Mount Ida College in the Saints' season opener on Thursday night. The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match, featured Emmanuel, ranked 14th nationally in the AVCA Division III Preseason Poll, taking three quick sets from the visiting Mustangs, 25-11, 25-19, 25-8. As a team, the Saints hit .309 for the match en route to the 3-0 win.

Emmanuel came out of the blocks strong, powered by the play of senior opposite Keoni Rabaino (Tucson, Ariz.). The Saints found themselves up 15-6 after Rabaino's fourth kill of the match. A kill by Thomas McCaffrey (Massapequa, N.Y.) brought the spread to 22-11, in favor of the Saints. A solo block by Cam Todd (Los Angeles, Calif.) pushed the score to set-point at 24-11 and Curtis Abram (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) ended the set with an ace at 25-11.

The momentum shifted to the visitors in set two, as the Mustangs jumped out to an early 7-3 lead after a couple receiving errors by the Saints. Emmanuel chipped away and managed to take a 15-14 lead on another ace by Abram. A 5-2 Saints' run, capped by a third Abram ace, brought the spread to 19-16 and forced a Mustang timeout. Set two was brought to a close at 25-19 on a defensive error by the Mustangs and Emmanuel took a 2-0 match lead.

The Saints opened up a quick 13-6 lead in the third set after a kill from the left side by Tyson Rietz (Granite Bay, Calif.). An ensuing 5-1 run by E.C. forced another Mustang timeout at 18-7. Out of the timeout, a Mustang miscue and two aces by Rietz made it 21-7. An Abram kill, followed by Rietz's fourth ace of the match set the score at 23-7. McCaffrey slammed one down to force match point at 24-7 and then ended the contest with an ace at 25-8.

McCaffrey was solid all night for the Saints, leading the hosts' offense and hitting .500 with 8 kills in total 16 attacks (with 0 errors). The senior middle also tallied a team high 8 blocks, including 5 solo put-backs. Rabaino and Abram notched 6 kills apiece, while Todd tallied 4 kills, 3 digs and a solo block.

Sophomore setter Nick Updike ran the show for the Saints, dishing out 25 assists in 40 set attempts. Updike also accounted for 4 digs, 3 kills and 2 aces on the night. Defensively, three-time team captain Jake DeLuise (Wakefield, R.I.) anchored the Emmanuel backrow with a team-high 8 digs for the Saints.

Emmanuel (1-0) will travel to New Paltz, New York on Saturday to play in the SUNY New Paltz Hawks Invitational Tournament. The Saints will take on Elms College and host New Paltz on Saturday and Emmanuel will square off with 7th-ranked Baruch and 8th-ranked MIT on Sunday.