BOSTON, Mass - The Emerson Lions played a tough game against the visiting MIT Men's Volleyball team, but ultimately came up short as the Engineers swept the Lions, 3-0. The sets ended 25-22, 25-23, and 25-14. With the win MIT jumps to 10-3 overall, the Lions drop to 3-5 on the season.

In the first set both teams came out firing as they traded points. With the score at 5-5, the Lions went on a run and jumped up 10-5 thanks to multiple kills and 2 service aces from Mark Piorkowski. But the Engineers responded and quickly closed the gap as they tied the set at 16-16. Again the score swung back and forth and with MIT up by three, Sean Kropp got a final kill to close the set 25-22.

The second set saw MIT open up to a 4-0 lead due to efforts from Matt Reilly and Martin Krasuki, before a series of errors got the Lions back into the mix. Stig Regan and Nick Rusk got some well timed kills to tie it up at 9-9. As soon as MIT would break away the Lions would climb right back in. With the score at 24-21 the Lions scored 2 quick points to get within striking distance, but a service error gave MIT the final point to close the second set 25-23.

The final set was dominated by the Engineers as the closed it out 25-14. Despite the score the Lions never stopped fighting making some huge blocks and playing with a ferocious intensity.

Stat leaders for MIT include Krasuki with 15 kills and a block assist. He was followed closely by Reilly who had 12 kills, a service ace and 8 digs. Leading in digs was Brendan Chang with 13, he also had a block assist. Leading in set assists was Yize Dong with 36, he also had 1 block solo and 1 assisted block.

Leading for the Lions was Piorkowski with 12 kills, 7 digs, 1 solo block, and 1 assisted block. leading in digs was Jared Gross with 14. Rusk had 2 solo blocks, 1 assisted block and 4 kills. Also coming in big on the blocking game was reagan with 1 solo block and 3 block assists. Brendan McGonigle lead in assists with 21, he also had 2 assisted blocks.

MIT looks forward to February 13th when they attend a tri-match against Elmira College and NYU. The Lions return to action this Thursday when they host Johnson & Wales for a 7:00pm match.