ENGINEERS TOP SAINTS IN LOCAL MEN'S VOLLEYBALL RIVALRY

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The MIT men's volleyball team defeated Emmanuel College, 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-22), on Wednesday night. Senior Alex Klein (San Diego, Calif.) compiled 12 kills, six digs, and four blocks for the Engineers (15-9), while senior Zach Whitermore (Whitehall, Pa.) paced the Saints (5-7) with 12 kills and eight digs.

Emmanuel inched out to an 8-5 lead in the opening frame, but a kill by freshman Jack Serrino (Glencoe, Ill.) sparked an 8-3 run that gave MIT a 13-11 edge. The Saints stayed close, tying the frame six times, the last on a service error that evened the score at 19. Kills by Klein and senior Chris Omahan (Mount Prospect, Ohio) gave the Engineers some breathing room; however, Emmanuel came within one on three occasions as a kill from senior Austin Cockerill (Darien, Conn.) cut the deficit to 24-23. The comeback attempt would be denied during the ensuing rally courtesy of a blast by Klein.

The hosts quickly built a 5-1 advantage in the second stanza but the Saints stayed within striking distance, eventually knotting the frame at 13 on the third block from senior Sean Baxley (Saint James, N.Y.) and junior Julian Hess (Santa Monica, Calif.) during the run. The set became a back-and-forth affair as three ties ensued until a kill by sophomore Martin Krasuski (Aurora, Ill.) sparked an 8-3 run that propelled MIT to a 25-20 victory.

The early stages of the third set were tightly played as there were seven ties and two lead changes. A kill from Baxley created an 11-11 deadlock but a block by Klein and Serrino helped the Engineers gradually establish a 20-15 cushion with senior Andrew Busse (Mount Prospect, Ill.) providing a kill and an ace. Following their own timeout, the Saints capitalized on a Hess kill and a pair of miscues, prompting a timeout by MIT. Once action resumed, a service error kicked off an exchange of points as a strike by Busse gave the Engineers match point at 24-21. A ball-handling error kept Emmanuel alive; however, a service error gave the Cardinal and Gray the win.

Busse finished with seven kills and two blocks while Serrino tallied six kills, four digs, and four blocks. Krasuski registered six kills and six digs as Omahan notched five digs and two aces. Junior Brendan Chang (Laytonsville, Md.) rounded out the squad with 29 assists, four digs, two aces, and two blocks.

Cockerill contributed seven kills, followed by six kills and five blocks from Hess. Baxley amassed 34 assists, seven digs, and four blocks, while junior Kevin Gallegos (Los Angeles, Calif.) collected six digs.

MIT returns to action on Saturday, March 28 in a United Volleyball Conference tri-match at nationally-ranked No. 9 NYU where the Engineers will also face No. 7 Nazareth College. Next up for Emmanuel will be a trip to local rival Emerson College for a GNAC battle on Saturday, March 21, at 11:00 AM.

- Courtesy of MIT Athletic Communications