BOSTON – Scoring their third win in the last four matches, Emmanuel men's volleyball secured their first straight sets win (25-16, 25-17, 25-21) in conference play, defeating the Emerson Lions on Thursday night on Andy Yosinoff Court in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play.
The Saints move to 8-6 (3-2 GNAC) with the win in their GNAC home debut. The Lions are in search of their first win as a difficult, early-season schedule, has them at 0-7 (0-3 GNAC).
In the opening frame, a pair of 4-0 Saints runs early in the set helped the home side pull away early, up to a 12-7 lead. The story of the first set was the blocking strength of Emmanuel, as the Saints claimed seven points thanks to their effort defensively. Seniors
Aiden McGowan and
Louis Da Silva led the charge with McGowan totaling one solo and three assisted blocks while Da Silva added one solo and two assisted blocks. A final service error by the Lions gave the Saints the opening set 25-16.
In the second set, the Saints used a 10-3 run through the middle of the set to take control. Emmanuel used a more traditional offensive approach in the second set, finishing the frame with 12 team kills while hitting .269 from the floor. The Lions closed to as close as five, but ran out of time as a Da Silva kill finished off the set, 25-17, in the Saints favor.
In the third, the Lions started quickly, scoring seven of the first nine points to lead by five. Coming out of an Emmanuel timeout, the Saints closed the gap, eventually leading to a 14-14 tie. The defining moment of the third was a 4-0 run by the Saints, to take an 18-14 lead, an advantage they wouldn't surrender. Emerson got within one point on multiple occasions, but the final three points favored the Saints, as they picked up the straight sets win.
Saints junior
Trey Guest finished with a match-high 12 kills, hitting .400 from the floor. Junior
Michael Shelley added nine kills, five digs, and two service aces. Da Silva finished the night with six kills on eight attempts to go with eight total blocks.
Lions junior
Chase Fagen had a team-high 10 kills to go along with seven digs. First-year
Cash Muse chipped in with eight kills while finishing with a .400 attack percentage.
The Saints take nearly two weeks off before returning on Wednesday, Feb. 26, hosting the No. 9 Wentworth Leopards on Yosinoff Court at 7:00 p.m. The Lions are back next Thursday, Feb. 20, as they play host to Fisher at 7:00 p.m.
