#15 Raiders improve to 9-0 in the GNAC

BOSTON, Mass. – 15th-ranked Rivier University traveled down to Emmanuel College as they Saints played host to Albertus Magnus College and the Raiders in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Men's Volleyball tri-match played in the Jean Yawkey Center on Saturday afternoon. The Raiders swept the two matches as they handed Albertus Magnus a 3-0 defeat before taking a 3-1 decision against Emmanuel.

Rivier now stands at 19-11 overall and undefeated at 9-0 in GNAC action. The split moves the Saints to 14-13 on the season and 9-2 in the league, with both of Emmanuel's losses this season coming at the hands of Rivier. The two losses dropped Albertus Magnus to 8-13 on the season and 0-11 in the GNAC.

The opening match of the day featured the Saints rolling to a sweep of the Falcons. Albertus Magnus held an early advantage over Emmanuel to begin the opening set, but the Saints rallied and took their first lead at 18-17. Emmanuel would end the set on an 8-3 run to take a 25-20 win in the opening game. The host Saints led throughout in set two and cruised to a 25-12 win. Emmanuel then used a 6-0 mid-set run to capitalize in the third set and come away with a 25-16 win and the 3-0 match sweep.

The 15th-ranked Raiders then handed the Falcons their second loss of the day, as they took a 3-0 win in the afternoon's second match. Rivier rolled to 25-19, 25-12 and 25-14 set wins. The Raiders were paced by 10 kills and 4 blocks from Logan Barbour (Clifton Park, N.Y.). Brendan Tutino (Manorville, N.Y.) added 7 kills, while Mike Hadder (Yucaipa, Calif.) dished out 29 assists, before leaving the match late in the third set with an injury. Chris Pfeffer (Torrington, Conn.) and Chase Brinton (Bethany, Conn.) led the Falcons with 4 kills apiece in the effort.

The final match of the day featured the top two teams in the conference battling for hosting rights in the upcoming GNAC Tournament. The visiting Raiders were able to hang on to their unbeaten conference streak with a 3-1 victory. The opening set featured back and forth action throughout with the two teams battling to 27 ties, before the set ended at 37-35. Neither team led by more than two points and Emmanuel held seven set-points, before a kill by Rivier's Shane Spellman (Norwich, Conn.) ended it.

The second set went to Rivier, 25-22, but Emmanuel rallied for a dominating third set win at 25-18. The Saints were led by 6 kills from sophomore hitter Ashanti Jackson (Sacramento, Calif.) in the third game alone. With some momentum heading into the fourth set, the hosts were unable to stop the Raiders and Rivier came away with a 25-23 win and a 3-1 match victory.

The Raiders were led by Aaron Almario (Alhambra, Calif.), who hammered down 16 kills, hitting .414, to go along with his 8 blocks. Chris Markuson (Cupertino, Calif.) added 14 kills, 9 digs and 5 blocks, while Terence Matatall (Danville, N.H.) tallied 12 kills and 8 blocks. Setter Steve Visentin (Cheshire, Conn.) recorded 49 assists in the win.

Jackson led the Saints with his match-high 19 kills, while hitting .333. He also led Emmanuel defensively with a team-high 8 digs. Zach Whitermore (Whitehall, Pa.) hit double figures in the kills column with 12, to go along with his 5 digs and 2 blocks. Ryan Kessler (Santa Clarita, Calif.) played a solid match with 9 kills, 5 digs and 2 blocks. Barrett Wingard (Dallastown, Pa.) and Julian Hess (Santa Monica, Calif.) notched 7 kills apiece, while senior setter Nick Updike (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) handed out 54 assists to go along with his 6 digs, 4 blocks and 2 aces.

The Raiders will finish the 2013 season with five GNAC contests. The first one will be against Johnson and Wales University on Tuesday, April 2nd inside the Muldoon Gymnasium.