BOSTON - The Emmanuel College men's volleyball team kicked off the 2nd Annual Fenway Classic on Saturday afternoon, taking on No. 20 Misericordia and Baruch on Andy Yosinoff Court. The Saints fell to Misericordia in the opener, 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, and 25-21), before outlasting Baruch in five sets, 3-2 (14-25, 25-20, 25-18, 30-32, 19-17). With the results, Emmanuel moves to 4-2, while Misericordia improves to 6-4, and Baruch drops to 0-2 in the opening weeks of the season.
Misericordia 3, Emmanuel 0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-21)
With the score tied at 22 late in the opening set, the Misericordia Cougars closed strong, scoring three straight points to earn a 1-0 lead in the match. Riding that momentum, the Cougars opened the second set with an explosive 7-0 run, creating a significant early advantage. The Saints battled back, narrowing the gap to 14-13, but a 4-0 surge by Misericordia provided enough breathing room for the visitors to secure a 25-20 win and extend their lead to 2-0.
In the third set, another fast start by the Cougars, this time a 5-0 run, put the visitors in control. Misericordia maintained their lead throughout the frame, clinching the match with a 25-21 victory and completing the sweep.
Misericordia posted a .324 hitting percentage with 32 kills in the match, led by Jared Piontkowski's 13 kills and Gannon DeFrain's 22 assists. The Saints struggled offensively, finishing with a .065 hitting percentage. Michael Shelley recorded a team-high 10 kills in the loss.
Emmanuel 3, Baruch 2 (14-25, 25-20, 25-18, 30-32, 19-17)
After dropping the first set 25-14, the Saints bounced back in the second to even the match. Trailing 18-16, Emmanuel ignited a 9-2 run to claim the second set 25-20. A dominant six-point surge midway through the third set gave the hosts a commanding lead, securing a 25-18 victory and a 2-1 advantage in the match.
Trailing 11-7 in the fourth set, the Saints rallied with four straight points to tie the score. Baruch regained control and reached set point at 24-21, but a kill by Jyles Amirault and two consecutive Bearcats errors brought Emmanuel back to 24-24. A powerful kill from Kory Lingenfelther gave the Cougars another set point, but the Saints held strong, earning a set point of their own at 26-25. The teams exchanged points in a back-and-forth battle, but a clutch 3-0 spurt to close that included two kills from Argjend Osmanaj secured 32-30 victory for Baruch, tying the match at 2-2.
After kills by Amirault and Shelley, the Saints built an 11-7 lead in the decisive fifth set. The Bearcats battled back, tying the score at 13 after a Saints error. Emmanuel regained the lead and held match point at 15-14, but Baruch answered with back-to-back points to earn a match point of their own. The Saints responded with a kill and an ace to reclaim match point. Though the Bearcats fended it off again, Emmanuel prevailed by taking the next two points to earn a 19-17 fifth-set win and a 3-2 victory to wrap up the opening day of the Fenway Classic.
Michael Shelley led the attack with 21 kills while Jyles Amirault added 13. Jehuda Tawalujan fed the hitters with 35 assist. The Saints hit a much improved .330 in the victory. Baruch was led by Noah Pak, who tallied 14 kills in the loss.
All three programs continue with day two of the Fenway Classic tomorrow (1/26). Misericordia will battle Wentworth at 12 PM before meeting Baruch at 2 PM. Following their 2 PM match, Baruch will battle Wentworth at 4 PM. Emmanuel returns to Yosinoff Court for matchups with No. 9 Hobart (11 AM) and Endicott (3 PM).
