NO. 15 WENTWORTH TOPS SAINTS, 3-1

BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Alex Potts (Niverville, N.Y.) hit .389 with 11 kills and added four blocks, as the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's volleyball team defeated Emmanuel College 3-1 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action played in Tansey Gymnasium on Thursday night.  The Leopards, who were ranked 15th nationally in the most recent American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) poll, improve to 15-4 overall and 5-1 in GNAC play with the win.  The visiting Saints now stand at 4-6 (2-3 GNAC) with the setback.

The Black and Gold started by scoring the first four points in the opening set, before an attack error made the score 4-1. Although the Saints came within a point early on, the Leopards never lost the lead. Sophomore Jake Reed (Arvada, Colo.) had four kills off of 12 attacks and recorded a pair of service aces. Wentworth finished on an 8-2 run to capture the first set 25-16.

Back-to-back kills by senior captains Zach Whitermore (Whitehall, Pa.) and Ashanti Jackson (Sacramento, Calif.) kicked off the second set and gave the Saints their first lead of the night. Wentworth regained the lead when the Leopards blocked a Whitermore attack to sit at 6-5. However, the Saints scored seven of the next nine points to lead 12-8. Wentworth came within three when the Leopards trailed 23-20 but Jackson's two kills helped finished the second set to take it 25-21 and set the match at 1-1.

The Leopards and Saints were neck and neck through the majority of the third set. Neither side gained more than a one-point advantage until Wentworth scored three straight to lead 12-9. Emmanuel climbed back to briefly hold the lead at 16-15, but Wentworth took control of the set and won 25-20 with Reed recording a kill to finish the set.

Wentworth took care of business in the fourth set, putting together a pair of 4-0 spurts. Freshman Sean Mullen's (Longwood, Fla.) pair of service aces helped propel a 7-3 run to finish the final set 25-16.

Reed finished the match hitting .324 with 15 kills and five service aces, while freshmen Sean Mullen (Longwood, Fla.) and Jon Roat (Macedon, N.Y.) had eight kills each. Sophomore Mike Rogachefsky (Rochester, N.Y.) led the match with 16 digs and classmate Collin Ritter (Feeding Hills, Mass.) had a match-high 45 assists.

Jackson and Whitermore led the Saints with 13 kills apiece. Jackson also had 10 digs while senior Sean Baxley (Saint James, N.Y.) dished out 39 assists.

Wentworth resumes play on Saturday, March 14th, when the Leopards will travel to Daniel Webster for a tri-match featuring Elms. Emmanuel picks up play on Tuesday, March 17th, as the Saints host conference foe Mount Ida.

- Courtesy of Wentworth Institute of Technology Sports Information