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MEN'S VOLLEYBALL DROPS SIXTH GNAC BID TO EMMANUEL 3-0
The Mount Ida College men's volleyball team dropped their sixth Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) contest of the season at the hands of visiting Emmanuel College, 3-0, by scores of 30-17, 30-26, and 31-29. The Mustangs fall to 5-9 overall, 2-6 in league play while the Saints improve to 14-4, 7-1 in the GNAC.
Mount Ida never led in game one, although they kept the match close, and trailed 6-8 after a kill by freshman Eddie Pinero (Inwood, NY/Lawrence) to pull within a deuce. The visitors slowly crept away from the Mustangs with a cluster of small 3-0 runs to pull ahead 18-10 after a Michael Townsend (Beaverdam, VA/Patrick Henry) kill. The teams went back and forth the next couple of sets with the Saints leading by ten up 23-13. Emmanuel went on to power a quick 5-0 run to go head 27-14 after a Mustang error. The visitors eventually closed out the 30-17 game one win with a junior Cam Todd (Los Angeles, CA/Crespi Carmelite) kill to finish it off up 1-0 in the match.
The Mustangs led in the opening of game two up 3-1 after a freshman Ross Florexil (Lake Worth, FL/Lake Worth) service ace. After multiple lead changes, the visitors would go ahead 9-8 after a freshman Zachary Caron (Hope, RI/Scituate) kill. The Saints held a small two point advantage for the next couple of sets up 18-16 after two consecutive points by Mount Ida capped off by a kill from junior Thomas Belton (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) and a solo block by freshman Spencer Hastings (Orlando, FL/Timber Creak). The hosts eventually tied the score at 20-20 after a Florexil solo block knotting it up for the first time since the 7-7 mark. Emmanuel went on to power a small 3-0 to lead 24-21 after a Mustang error. Unfortunately for Mount Ida, the Saints overpowered the hosts down the stretch capturing the 30-26 game two victory up 2-0 in the match.
Game three was the closest of the night with multiple lead changes and ties featured in the set. Mount Ida took a small two point lead up 13-11 after a Belton kill. The advantage didn't last long with the visitors pulling ahead 18-15 after a Townsend kill. The Saints maintained the lead up 23-19 after a Caron kill. The Mustangs wouldn't let up powering a 5-0 run to tie the score at 27-27 after an error by Emmanuel. The action went back and forth for the next couple of points with the Saints holding a one point advantage at 30-29. The Mustangs had trouble controlling a hammered jump serve for match point that ricocheted out of bounds. The visitors went on to capture the 31-29 game three win and the 3-0 match victory.
The Mustangs were led by Hastings with 12 kills and seven digs while Belton chipped in nine kills. Senior captain Shane Wilson (Gloucester, MA/Gloucester) added 10 digs with Pinero adding three assists and one solo block.
Mount Ida men's volleyball will travel to the Bard College in New York starting Friday night for a two day tournament.
