Feb. 17, 2012

Box Score

NASHUA, N.H. – The Emmanuel College Men's Volleyball Team dropped its first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match of the 2012 season to defending champion Rivier College on Friday night. Despite a combined 28 kills from the rookie tandem of Ashanti Jackson (Sacramento, Calif.) and Zach Whitermore (Whitehall, Pa.), the Saints fell in four sets, 19-25, 25-20, 21-25, 22-25. Emmanuel now stands at 4-3 on the season and 3-1 in GNAC play, while Rivier improves to 7-2 overall and 4-0 in the league.

These two teams last met in Boston on March 1, 2011, when the Saints topped the Raiders in five sets. The 2012 battle went to Rivier, with the Raiders taking sets one, three and four, en route to the victory.

Rivier was led by a strong offensive effort from freshman Chris Markuson (Cupertino, Calif.) and sophomore Aaron Almario (Alhambra, Calif) who both had 14 kills on the night. Senior Andrew Corwin (Framingham, MA) recorded a double-double of 10 digs and 10 kills against the Saints. Running the show for the hosts was junior Steve Visentin (Cheshire, CT), who dished out 49 assists on the evening.

The Saints played the Raiders tough on the night, avoiding the sweep by taking set two. Emmanuel's freshmen duo of Jackson and Whitermore led the attack. Jackson notched a match-high 16 kills, while Whitermore hit .526 with 12 kills in 19 swings. Junior setter Nick Updike finished with a solid line of 38 assists, 6 digs, 4 kills, 3 blocks and 2 aces. Senior middle Tom McCaffrey (Massapequa, N.Y.) tallied 7 kills and a team-high 6 blocks in the effort.

Rivier will take the week off, before returning to action next Saturday (2/25), when they travel to New York to compete in the Baruch College Invitational Tournament. Emmanuel will play in this same tournament, but the Saints face their next match-up on the road against Harvard University this Wednesday.

COURTESY OF RIVIER COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION