Box Score THE BASICS
Score: Eastern Nazarene 3, Emerson 2 (25-20, 22-25, 28-26, 20-25, 11-15)
Records: Emerson Lions (1-8, 0-3 GNAC) ; Eastern Nazarene Lions (5-6, 0-0 NECC)
Location: Boston, Mass. (Brown & Plofker Gym)
Date: February 17, 2023
The Lead: The junior duo of Luke Roehm and Neiko Pittman registered a combined 33 kills followed by sophomore Bayden Slavik's 36 assists as the Emerson men's volleyball surrendered a five-set 3-2 setback to Eastern Nazarene on Friday night.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
EMERSON
Pittman: 16 kills, 10 digs
Roehm: 17 kills
Slavik: 36 assists, four aces, two blocks
Bryson Beck: 10 digs
EASTERN NAZARENE
Delfy Soler: 21 kills
Nathan Jacques: 45 assists, 16 digs
Alejandro Garcia-Fernandez: two aces
Chris Jaskiewicz: four blocks
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE
- Eastern Nazarene put Emerson in an early five-point hole as the Lions faced a 6-1 deficit to start off the opening set. Emerson erased their five-point deficit and embarked on a 9-3 spurt to pull ahead 10-9 on an attack error by ENC.
- After they gained the one-point edge, Emerson set off and tallied the set's next eight consecutive points to grab the outright lead at 18-10 on Slavik's ace at the line.
- Emerson stayed in front by a margin of at least seven through the closing of the frame and gained the 24-17 on an ENC serving error. The visiting Lions capitalized on three Emerson miscues to close back to close in a 24-20, but the hosts locked down the win on a swing from Roehm.
SET TWO
- With the score locked at 5-all, ENC pieced together a 4-0 run to gain the four-point edge at 9-5. The two teams battled through a majority of the frame with Emerson staying within one on four occasions.
- Emerson continued to battle and closed within one once more at 22-21 on a swing from Pittman before ENC tacked two more points on a kill and attack error to put the Purple & White down three at 24-21.
- Another kill from Pittman pulled Emerson within a pair at 24-22, but it was ENC who tallied the set's final point on Fernandez's kill.
SET THREE
- Emerson jumped out to an early 4-0 advantage and maintained it until past the midway point of the frame with the score at 15-13 after an ENC serving mishap.
- ENC chiseled down Emerson's tight lead and used a 5-0 run that consisted of four kills from Fernandez to pull ahead for the first time at 18-17.
- After ENC claimed a short-lived lead, eight ties and four lead changes occurred before ENC edged in front at 26-25, which would be their final lead of the set.
- An ENC serving mishap leveled the game at 26-all as Emerson set off and registered the set's final pair of points to seal the 28-26 victory on another Lions attacking error.
SET FOUR
- Emerson trailed by as much as five to begin the fourth frame, but were able to tack on the next seven of 10 points to inch back within a pair at 15-13.
- ENC put up three more points to put Emerson back in a four-point deficit, yet it was the hosts pieced together a 6-1 streak to lock the set up twice at 19 and then 20-all.
- A kill from Pittman was the final point Emerson would register in the fourth set for ENC tallied the last five points as the Lions fell, 25-20.
SET FIVE
- Emerson snagged the early 5-4 lead as the fifth set began after Roehm send down a kill, but their lead was quickly erased by three ENC scores that pushed the visitors up two, 7-5.
- A Pittman kill and another ENC serving error kept the hosts within striking distance at 8-7, which was the closest Emerson would come to reaching ENC.
- For the remainder of the frame, Emerson trailed by a three-point margin and fell 15-11 after Pacheco sent down the final kill.
UP NEXT
- Emerson takes to the hardwood next Saturday, February 25th for tri-match action and take on Dean and Elms at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
FOLLOW THE LIONS
