THE BASICS 

Score: Rivier 3, Emerson 0 

Records: Emerson Lions (1-8, 0-4 GNAC) ; Rivier Raiders (4-6, 3-1 GNAC)

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

Date: February 18, 2022

The Lead: Led by  Neiko Pittman's 11 kills, the Emerson's men's Volleyball Team suffered  a three-set  loss to GNAC opponent Rivier on Friday night at Brown & Plofker Gym.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS 

EMERSON 

Neiko Pittman: 11 kills, 6 blocks

Bayden Slavik: 14 assists, 2 blocks

RIVIER

David Smith: 16 kills, 4 aces,

Ethan Soltis: 10 kills

Pedro Campos: 33 assists

HOW IT HAPPENED 

SET ONE 

• Emerson would score the first four points of the match as they jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead.
• Rivier would battle back as a service error from Neiko Pittman followed by a service ace from Rivier's David Smith would start to shift the momentum in Rivier's favor.
• With the score in Emerson's favor 13-10, Rivier's Ethan Soltis would capture one of his 10 kills on an assist by Pedro Campos. This would set Rivier up to score the next 11 points and jumping out to a 21-14 lead.
• Kills from Rory Dobbins and a service ace from Bayden Slavik would give the Lions some life, but they would ultimately lose the set 25-21

SET TWO

• Both teams traded points to open the second set with neither team stringing together a run of more than two consecutive points until, with Emerson holding onto a 5-7 lead, Rivier rattled off 7 straight points to take a 12-7 lead.
• A David Smith service error would end the Rivier run and the set would continue to go back and forth.
• With Rivier ahead 23-16, one of Luke Roehm's 5 kills would spark a Lions 4-0 run to bring the score to 23-20 in favor of Rivier.
• Two service errors by the Lions would seal the set victory for Rivier.

SET THREE

• The third set would see Emerson claim a 3-0 lead with two attack errors against Rivier and a service ace for Luke Roehm.
• The Lions would lead by as many as 6 when an attack error by David Smith gave the Lions a 16-10 advantage.
• Rivier would cut into that lead when they rattled off three points in a row.
• The momentum swung in Rivier's favor as the Lions were unable to put together consecutive points for the remainder of the set, allowing Rivier to secure a 25-21 victory and a 3-0 sweep.

UP NEXT

• Emerson has a quick turnaround as they head to Regis for a tri-match on Saturday, February 19th at Regis (Mass.) where they will face the hosts and King's (Pa.) at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m