EC Drops GNAC Opener, 3-0

In the Great Northeast Athletic Conference opener for the Men’s Volleyball team, the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales swept EC in three straight sets, 25-13, 25-10, 25-13. Mike Kokoros (Braintree, Mass.) of the Saints had a team-high seven kills while Zach Turner (Coventry, R.I.) notched Kokoros for a match-best eight kills.

EC Drops GNAC Opener, 3-0
Video Box Score

Team Stats

January 28, 2020

THE BASICS
Score: Emmanuel College 0, Johnson & Wales University, 3
Records: Emmanuel (1-2, 0-1 GNAC); Johnson & Wales (3-5, 1-0 GNAC)
Location: Boston, Mass. – Andy Yosinoff Court
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2020

THE LEAD: In the Great Northeast Athletic Conference opener for the Men's Volleyball team, the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales swept EC in three straight sets, 25-13, 25-10, 25-13. Mike Kokoros (Braintree, Mass.) of the Saints had a team-high seven kills while Zach Turner (Coventry, R.I.) notched Kokoros for a match-best eight kills.

HOW IT HAPPENED

  • EC started the evening with a strong showing, keeping the first set close with kills by Kokoros, Justyn Schueler (Trumbull, Conn.) and an assisted block by Roman Fabrizio (Salem, N.H.) and Josh McDonald (Smithtown, N.Y), 4-4, but the Wildcats roared ahead with a pair of kills by Jack Pincince (South Kingstown, R.I) and Sanjae Holloway (East Hartford, Conn.), 13-7. JWU continued the push the defense of the Saints, allowing only another six points before closing out the set, 25-13.
  • The Wildcats started the second by controlling the net, starting the set with a solo block by Josh Pitzer (North Kingstown, R.I.) and an assisted block with Pitzer and Jonny Trail (East Hartford, Conn.), building the momentum to go ahead quickly, 12-6. Despite a couple of kills by Fabrizio and Seamus McDonagh (Long Beach, N.Y), the Wildcats completed the second with a blasting kill by Joao Boaventua (Milford, Mass.), 25-10.
  • The final set of the evening began with a 10-3 run by JWU, highlighted by two kills by Ben Naouai (Long Beach, N.Y.) and an assisted block by Turner and Endel Sanchez (East Hartford, Conn.). EC pushed through the middle of the set with kills by Kokoros and Gary Randall (Essex Junction, Vt.) but could not overcome the strong attack of the Wildcats, 25-13.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

  • McDonagh and Fabrizio partnered on the setting duties for the Saints, combining for 18 assists while Ben Sandt (East Northport, N.Y.) paced the Wildcat offense with 19 assists.
  • In the 39 career meetings between the two squads, Emmanuel still controls the all-time series record with 24 wins and only 15 losses.

UP NEXT

  • EC will be heading on the road for a five-match spree, first visiting Nichols College on January 30th at 7PM.
  • The Wildcats will be back on the road for a non-conference tri-match against MIT and Endicott College on Saturday, February 1st at 1PM and 3PM.