Men's Volleyball Takes Home Bard Invitational Championship Title

Lasell College men's volleyball team took home the Bard College Invitational Championship this weekend, beating three teams to make their way to the title.  Dave Rogers (Belchertown, Mass.) was selected Most Outstanding Player at the tournament after averaging 2.89 kills per set, and 2.77 digs per set while hitting 35%.  Zack Smith (Agawam, Mass.) and Dustin Foster (Ashford, Conn.) were each chosen as representatives on the All-Tournament team along with Rogers for their efforts in the 3-0 weekend.

The Lasers started out with a 3-1 win over Purchase College on Friday night.  Purchase came back from a five point deficit in the first game to win set 30-27, but Lasell took the next game, 30-28, after trailing early in the set.  In the third and fourth games, Lasell was dominant and put the match away by scores of 30-17 and 30-23.

Dave Rogers had a team best 13 kills in the match, adding 8 digs, while Matt Roberts (Agawam, Mass.) and Mike Harrington (Billerica, Mass.) each added 10 kills.  Roberts hit 46.7% in the match, also contributing 3 aces, 4 digs, and 3 blocks. Smith had 40 assists, 4 digs and 2 kills in the match and D. Foster put down 8 kills, picked up 6 digs, and threw in 3 service aces and 5 total blocks in an impressive showing.

As a team, the Lasers hit a .376 clip and were also defensively strong with 18 blocks and 38 digs. 

In the first match of the day on Saturday, Lasell controlled the tempo from start to finish with a 3-0 sweep of Medgar Evers.  Trevor Foster (Ashford, Conn.)  took over the middle with 11 kills on 14 attempts, hitting an imposing 78.6%.  T. Foster also had three solo blocks in the victory.  Smith fired in eight service aces, and distributed 18 assists over the course of the match, and Joe Lipski  (Burlington, Conn.) along with Harrington, collected five digs apiece.

The final scores of the contest were 30-9, 30-7, 30-17, and the Lasers improved their record to 12-7 overall.

In the championship game, Lasell faced the hosting Bard College Raptors, defeating them in three, 30-19, 30-20, 30-23.  D. Foster once again put in a fine performance with 7 kills, 4 aces, and five blocks for the Lasers, while Dave Rogers complied 8 kills and 10 digs for an all-around strong presentation.  Roberts hit 9-11 with no errors for a .818 clip and Smith put up 27 assists to lead Lasell to the 3-0 weekend. The Lasers hit 43% as a team in the match, averaging 3.33 aces, 14.33 kills, 2 blocks, and 13 digs per set in the championship match.

The Lasers will travel to Albertus Magnus College on Tuesday, March 3rd to face the Falcons at 7:00 p.m.