BOSTON – After splitting the first two sets on Wednesday night, Emmanuel men's volleyball couldn't keep pace with one of the nation's top programs, falling 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-19, 25-16) to the No. 10 Wentworth Leopards on Wednesday night in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play from Yosinoff Court.

The 10^th-ranked Leopards improve to 14-3 (6-0 GNAC), as they stay unbeaten in conference play. The Saints drop to 8-7 (3-3 GNAC) in their return to play following a 13-day layoff.

The opening set was one of split points throughout with the difference coming on Wentworth's ability to score two straight points in the middle of the set while the Saints could only answer with one. The Leopards led by five for most of the opening frame, eventually settling on a 25-20 set win following an Emmanuel service error.

The Saints came through in the second set as an early 7-2 run lifted the Saints to a 12-6 lead to maintain a safe distance from their Fenway rivals. Wentworth closed to within a pair, but a four-point surge by the Saints kept them well in front at 23-17. The Leopards again closed to within two, fighting off two set points in the process, but a Louis Da Silva kill capped off a 25-22 win for the Saints.

In the third, both sides fought for momentum, eventually leading to a 14-14 tie. It was Wentworth that found the extra push, going on a 6-1 run to take control at 20-15. The Saints and Leopards traded points to the finish, as a service error by Emmanuel finished the set, favoring Wentworth, 25-19.

In the fourth set, an early lead for the Leopards grew larger as Wentworth rattled off five consecutive points for a 12-5 edge. Wentworth maintained a safe distance from Emmanuel as the Saints could only get within four. Despite a late Saints push, the Leopards closed the door with another five-point surge, setting up match point. Two points later, a Connor Foxwell kill finished the match in a 25-16 set win.

Leopards sophomore Ian Babcock finished with a team-high 14 kills while hitting .455 on the night. Junior Mason Andrade added 13 kills on a .478 attack percentage while sophomore Alem Dubcak finished with 10 kills.

Saints junior Michael Shelley led all players with 17 kills and a .257 hitting percentage. Junior Trey Guest ended the night with 10 kills and a team-high seven total blocks. Senior Jyles Amirault added nine kills and five digs.

The Saints make the quick turnaround as they head to Dean College tomorrow night for a 7:00 p.m. GNAC match. The Leopards are back in action on March 8 in a tri-match with SUNY New Paltz and MIT.