THE BASICS

Score: Rivier 3, Emerson 0

Records: Emerson Lions (5-18, 3-10 GNAC) ; Rivier Raiders (14-8. 11-2 GNAC)

Location: Nashua, N.H. (Muldoon Gymnasium)

Date: March 31, 2022

The Lead: In their final road matchup of the 2022 regular season, the Emerson men's volleyball team slipped to Rivier, 3-0, in GNAC men's volleyball action on Thursday night. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

EMERSON

Neiko Pittman: nine kills & four digs
Bayden Slavik: 19 assists & four digs
Jack Miessner: two aces & four digs

RIVIER 

David Smith: 15 kills & five aces
Pedro Campos: 27 assists
Sokunbuth Ly: seven digs
Chris Lezon: three blocks

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• After Emerson trailed by six to begin the first set at 10-4, the Lions tacked on the next three of four points to full within four at 11-7. Rivier answered with a five-point streak to bolster their lead to nine at 16-7. 
• Emerson continued to chase Rivier by nine after a service error by the Raiders before the hosts upped the Lions' deficit into double-figures at 22-11. The Lions forged a comeback late in the frame and tallied a 6-1 streak to come within six at 23-17. 
• Rivier tallied the set's final pair of points on a service error and swing by Smith to take the set, 25-17.
• In the second frame, Emerson was held to just 10 points as Rivier racked up a hit percentage of .429 as the Lions fell, 25-10. 
• The third set for Emerson started off with the Lions falling behind by as much as eight at 16-8. Behind a quick four-point run filled with two Rivier attack miscues and two kills, Emerson inched within four at 16-12. 
• The Lions managed to keep pace with the Raiders at four at 20-16 before the Raiders extended their lead to six at 23-17. The Purple & Gold got one more point on an attack error, but the hosts closed out the third with two points on a kill and Lions attack mishap.

UP NEXT 

• Emerson closes the regular season at home on Saturday, April 2nd when they host Elms and Dean for a Senior Day tri-match that starts at 11:00 a.m.