BOSTON, Mass. – The Emerson Lions asserted their dominance against Anna Maria College in GNAC play, earning a 25-17, 25-16 and 25-10 victory.  Dimitri Gorenc (nine kills, 12 points), Jackson Wiley (10 kills, 15 points), and Brendan McGonigle (28 assists, 9.5 points) led the Lions to an important in-conference win.  Connor Burton added seven kills and five digs for EC. 

The Lions improve the 6-5 overall and 1-1 in-conference play, while Anna Maria falls to 1-4 and 0-2 against GNAC opponents. 

EC dominated in the first set, capitalizing on Anna Maria errors and showcasing their own technical prowess.  In a team effort, EC posted a .308 kill percentage.  The Lions won the majority of the battles in the middle of the net, with McGonigle scoring two key kills late in the set.  EC would finish the set with a decisive 25-17 advantage. 

The second set, Gorenc slammed a kill into the back corner for EC's first point, and added another kill in the same spot to give the Lions an early 3-2 advantage.  Anna Maria tied the score 5-5 on a Ben Hillman service error before taking the lead on the next serve.  EC fell behind 11-14 midway through the set before Wiley took control offensively to bring the score to a 14-14 tie.  Expert serves by McGonigle allowed EC to pull ahead 20-15.  The Lions put the set away 25-16. 

EC improved their kill percentage, posting an impressive .444 in the second set.

In the third, Burton hit a hard kill to give EC a 4-3 advantage.  The Lions extended the lead to five behind two Wiley service aces and kills from Devin McIntyre and Connor Burton.  EC completely took over the set, amassing an 18-6 lead and never looked back.  The one-sided set ended 25-10 in EC's favor. 

For the AMCATS, Dylan Copeland (six kills) and Jonathan Gallardo (six kills) were the leaders for Anna Maria.

The Lions serve up some action again at home against Lasell College March 13 at 7 p.m.

Written by Keely Flanagan, Emerson Athletics Media Relations