MEN'S VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN SEASON OPENER TO SAINTS 3-0

Mount Ida College men's volleyball junior Thomas Belton (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) recorded 11 kills Wednesday night but it wasn't enough for the Mustangs to capture a victory in their Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) season opener against hosting Emmanuel College losing 3-0 (30-19, 30-24, 30-20).  The Mustangs fall to 0-1 overall, 0-1 in GNAC play while the Saints improve to 2-1, 1-0 in league play. 

The Mustangs jumped out to a quick 8-4 lead in the first set, forcing an early Emmanuel timeout.  The Saints came out following the break rattling off four unanswered points to tie the match at eight all.  The Saints then continued their run taking an 18-11 lead on a kill forcing the Mustangs to call a timeout of their own.  The hosts went ahead to take a commanding 27-16 lead followed by two more consecutive points making it 29-18 in favor of the Saints.  Emmanuel won set-point on a kill (30-19) taking the immediate 1-0 match lead.

In set two, Emmanuel took a 15-7 lead on a solo block with no answer from the visitors.  The Saints went up 18-9 with another kill maintaining a strong lead.  The hosts lead eventually dwindled later in the match, but the Saints kept it together capturing a 26-21 advantage.  The five-point lead continued, as Emmanuel went up 27-22 on a kill and ultimately put game two away, 30-24, leading 2-0 in the match.

The Mustangs hung around early in the third set.  The Saints took a 17-13 lead on a kill followed by a solo block capping off an 8-3 Emmanuel forcing a Mount Ida timeout, as the Mustangs faced a 25-16 deficit.   Following the break, the Saints managed five points to just four by the visitors.  Match-point was won on a kill giving the hosts a 30-20 game three victory and the 3-0 match win.

Along with a solid performance by Belton, sophomore Franklin McCaffrey (East Greenwich, RI/East Greenwich) recorded seven kills and two digs while standout freshman Spencer Hastings (Orlando, FL/Timber Creak) with seven kills and three digs.  Junior libero Hermes Lima (Boston, MA/West Roxbury) tallied six digs. 

The Mustangs will travel to Wentworth Institute of Technology for a tri-match to face the Leopards and visiting Endicott College Saturday starting at 11:00 a.m.