BOSTON, Mass. -- Rivier College, the fifth ranked team in the nation in Division III men's volleyball, used a balanced and deep attack to take a 3-1 victory over Emerson College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference match at Emerson's Brown & Plofker Gym. The Raiders took the match by scores of 25-16, 25-17, 19-25, and 25-15.
Rivier came out of the gate quickly breaking out to 5-0 and 9-2 leads in the first game. The Lions were unable to generate any offense as Emerson's first four servers in the game committed service errors on their first attempts. The Lions mounted a strong comeback from an 18-10 deficit on a 5-0 run to pull within three, but four consecutive Raider points put the match out of reach.
Emerson started more strongly in game two with the teams splitting the first 17 points. Four straight Raider points gave Rivier some breathing room, and the Raiders were never threatened after that.
The third game marked the first game that Emerson has taken from the Raiders in five previous meetings. Emerson never trailed in the game breaking out from a 14-14 tie to take a 25-19 decision.
The teams started evenly in the fourth game with the score tied at three after the first six points. Rivier scored the next four points, and although the Lions pulled to within 8-5, that was as close as Emerson would come.
Jared Andreozzi '11 (Barrington, R.I.) and Aaron Almario '14 (Alhambra, Calif.) led the Raiders with nine kills each. Almario also added a team-high nine blocks. Steve Visentin '12 (Cheshire, Conn.) had 15 assists. Freshman Sam Kazlas (Allentown, PA) played well on the outside for Rivier tallying 7 kills, 3 blocks, and 3 digs while classmate Cameron Walker (Costa Mesa, CA) dished out 17 assists to lead the offense. Freshmen Alex Wezelis (Churchville, NY) and Daniel Elitharp (Eastport, NY) played well in the back row scooping up 4 digs apiece and passing a spotless 20 for 20 on receive. Elitharp also added 3 kills on offense.
For Emerson, Nadav Swarttz '14 (Newton, Mass.) led with seven kills. Garrett Mercer '11 (North Kingstown, R.I.) led the Lions with eight blocks, and Steve Selnick '12 (Cheshire, Conn.) paced Emerson with 21 assists.
Emerson (1-1, 1-1 GNAC) hosts Johnson & Wales University and Albertus Magnus College in a GNAC tri-match on Saturday at 10:00am and 2:00pm. Rivier will travel to New Jersey for a non-conference tri-match with Philadelphia Biblical College and Ramapo at Ramapo at 11:00am and 1:00pm.
