THE BASICS 

Score: Emmanuel (Mass.) 3, Emerson 0

Records: Emerson Lions (1-6, 0-2 GNAC) ; Emmanuel (Mass.) Saints (4-4, 3-1 GNAC)

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

Date: February 10, 2022

The Lead: Sophomore Neiko Pittman led the Emerson men's volleyball team with a game-high 15 kills as the Lions were upended by Emmanuel (Mass.), 3-0, on Thursday night in GNAC (Greater Northeast Athletic Conference) action. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON 

Pittman: 15 kills
Bayden Slavik: 25 assists 
Josh Elliot: one ace
Bryson Beck: 13 digs
Ramsis De Los Santos: three blocks 

EMMANUEL (MASS.) 

Joshua McDonald: nine kills & three blocks
Roman Fabrizio: 29 assists
Jyles Amirault: three aces
Tyler Behsman: seven digs

HOW IT HAPPENED 

SET ONE 

• Emerson jumped into the scoring mix early on in the first with a 7-3 lead out the gate. After holding the four point lead, the Lions held the Saints to a deficit of at least three to the midway point of the frame.
• Emmanuel, down 14-13, used a trio of points to give themselves their first lead of the set after on a swing from Reyes to go up on at 15-14. 
• Two more ties occurred between the two teams before Emmanuel set off with the next four straight to take their biggest lead as an ace at the line at 20-18.
• The Saints went extend its scoring run with the next five of six points down the stretch as the Lions slipped in set one, 25-19. 

SET TWO

• With the score locked at 4-all, Emmanuel tallied a 5-1 streak to push the visitors up four at 9-5. Emerson responded with the next three points and drew within one on after Elliot served up an ace. 
• The Saints put two points up on the board with the score now at 11-8 only to see the Lions climb back to claim its first lead. The hosts used a pair of swings and Saints attack errors to lift to the 13-12 advantage. 
• Emmanuel boosted its lead up to six on a 7-0 run with Emerson now facing a 19-13 deficit as they headed into the final stretch of the set. On several occasions, Emerson closed the gap to within three with clutch swings and Saints errors, but the comeback was cut short as the Lions fell, 25-19. 

SET THREE

• Two Emmanuel attack errors and a pair of Emerson kills helped the hosts out to the quick 4-1 advantage and continue to build onto what would become a 9-7 lead. 
• A swing by Louis Da Silva, Lions attack error and service ace pushed Emmanuel back on top by 10-9, but three ties followed with the last coming at 12-all when Pittman sent down a kill. 
• Emmanuel followed up the tie with the next seven of eight points to give themselves the six-point lead at 18-13, however, Emerson battled back. Starting with back-to-back kills from Pittman and freshman Jack Meissner, the Lions tallied the next five points to even the score at 18-all.
• The score continued to go back and forth as the third frame closed as Emerson kept within striking distance of Emmanuel, but the Saints closed the set with match point on a Lions attack mishap. 

UP NEXT

• Emerson stays on its home hardwood next Tuesday, February 15 and play host to GNAC opponent, Lasell, at 7:00 p.m.