THE BASICS

Scores: Match One: Lasell 3, Emerson 0

Match 2: Rivier 3, Emerson 1

Records: Emerson Lions (9-7, 1-6 GNAC) ; Lasell Lasers (12-12, 6-4 GNAC) ; Rivier Raiders (16-7, 7-0 GNAC)

Location: Boston, Mass. (Brown & Plofker Gym)

Date: March 23rd, 2019

The Lead: The Emerson Lions Men's Volleyball Team fell in both legs of a conference tri-match on Saturday, dropping in straight sets to the Lasell Lasers, but taking one set from the No. 15 nationally ranked Rivier Raiders.

MATCH ONE (3-0, 25-22, 25-21, 25-23)

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Mark Piorkowski paced the Lions with 10 kills, while Win Kitticatcharapong added six.
• Kittivatacharpong had four service aces and two solo blocks to go along with his six kills.
• Lucas Raagas (Cambridge, Mass.) led Emerson with six digs, while Jonah Higaonna (Okinawa, Japan) and Jacob DiTore (Salem, N.H.) each had five.
• Raagas assisted on 19 of Emerson's 30 kills, with Josh Elliot (Swedesboro, N.J.) assisting on the other 11.
• Nate Gallo paced the Lasers with 21 assits, while Scott Sterenberg had 12 kills.
• Dillon DeSouza added eight kills, and two players had six for Lasell.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The first set started out back nd forth, with the teams splitting the first 14 points.
• Lasell built a three point lead on a Sterenberg kill at 13-10.
• Emerson fought back, but Lasell held the lead and did not let Emerson tie the score again.
• After a small run by the Lions, a Lasell kill by Janice Soto gave the lasers the first set win.
• The second set was much of the same, with the Lasers taking an early three point lead at 10-7.
• Lasell built their lead to four at 17-13, before three straight points, including to Kittivatcaharpong service aces cut the lead to one.
• The Lions were unable to overcome the deficit, losing the set 25-21.
• Emerson took thesis of the first seven points, leading the Lasers 6-1 on a Piorkowski kill to open the third set.
• Emerson held their lead, keeping the Lasers at bay and not letting them within four.
• A 9-2 run by the Lasers put Emerson down two at 19-17.
• The Lions won three of the next four points, once on another Kittivatcharapong ace, tying the score at 20.
• Lasell was able to edge out the Lions in the final points, winning 25-23 and taking the match 3-0.

MATCH TWO (3-1, 25-19, 21-25, 25-18, 25-22)

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Willinger and Piorkowski led the way for Emerson, with 11 and 13 kills respectively.
• Kittivatcharapong added nine kills with two digs, and one service ace.
• Raagas had an impressive showing, with 31 assists on 31 kills for Emerson.
• Cam Roth led the Raiders with 11 digs while Jack Normandin had 14 kills.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Rivier jumped out to an early lead in the first set, 7-4.
• The Lions cut the lead to one on a Willinger kill at 10-9.
• Rivier built their lead back up to give at 21-16, and eventually closed out the set at 25-19.
• In the second set, Emerson opened up an early two point lead on a Willinger kill at 7-5.
• The teams traded points after this, with no team leading by more than one until Emerson took the lead back at 12-10.
• After knotting the game at 14, Emerson went on a 5-0 run, headlined by a Piorkowski kill to give Emerson the 19-14 lead, their biggest of the match.
• Rivier made a run of their own, cutting the lead to two at 22-20.
• The Lions won three of the next four points, taking the set 25-21.
• The third set was another close battle, with Rivier opening up their biggest lead at 11-8.
• After trying a few points, Rivier extended on their lead to make it 18-11 after a Normandin kill.
• Emerson looked back to get into the set, but was unable to threaten Rivier's lead, falling 25-18.
• In the last set, Emerson opened up an early 7-4 lead that Rivier cancelled out on a 6-2 run to take a 10-9 lead.
• The teams traded points, with no team leading by more than two until the Raiders extended on their lead at 23-19.
• The Lions kept the Raiders close, but ultimately fell in the fourth and final set 25-22.

UP NEXT

• Emerson has a pair of conference matchups in the next week, with Johnson & Wales away on Tuesday before returning home to take on Colby-Sawyer on Thursday, both matches will start at 7:00.