Gulls Rally Past Lasers, 3-1

BEVERLY, MA-  Following a 30-18 opening set victory by the Lasell College men's volleyball team, Endicott College rallied to take the next three games (30-22, 30-21, 30-22) to seal the 3-1 match win.  The triumph improved the Gulls overall slate to 9-4 this season and broke up a three game winning streak for the Lasers, who drop to 8-4 this season.

In the first set, six Lasers registered at least two kills, with freshman outside Spencer Parker (Newington, CT) leading the way, notching four kills.  Lasell only trailed once in the early moments of the game before  surging to a 13-5 run to grab a substantial 15-8 lead. Will Leclerc (Fairfield, CT) ended the set with two service aces, one after the other.

The second set proved to be a much different story as Endicott took an immediate advantage and never relinquished control of that lead.  Lasell tied the game up just once, at 13-all after a Gull service error.  A.J. Witkofsky (Scotia, NY) tallied five kills in the game for Endicott and John Emery (Westford, MA) and Jordan Durant (Honolulu, HI) each made their mark with four kills in the win. 

Parker had a huge performance in the third set for Lasell, with seven kills and six digs, but it was not enough to put Lasell over the hump.  Witkofsky notched six kills the third set, and Emery contributed five more.  Lasell dropped the third set, 30-21.  

In the final game of the match, Endicott struck quickly, going up 12-3, in a stretch that the Lasers committed seven attack errors.  The Gulls would pull ahead by as much as 11 before a late rally fell short for the Lasers.  Endicott closed out the match with a 30-22 fourth set victory. 

The Blue and Green were led by 14 kills apiece from Emery and Witkofsky. Jordan Durant and James Sliva (Monroe, Conn.) each added eight kills while Ben Foster handed out 48 assists. Andrew Slocum (Burnt Hills, N.Y.) helped lead the defense with his team-high 10 digs.

Lasell was led by a match-high 19 kills from Parker who also added nine digs. Leclerc and Harry Strobel (Westport, Conn.) each had nine kills apiece while Brendan McGourn (Southington, Conn.) had a game-high 49 assists. Max Vaughn (Wethersfield, Conn.) chipped in with a match-high 12 digs in the setback.

Lasell plays again Monday night as the Lasers travel to Mount Ida College for a NECVA GNAC showdown, at 7:00 p.m.