Men's Volleyball Hosts Successful Home Opener; Sweeps Lesley 3-0

NEWTON, MA- In the Lasell College men's volleyball home opener, the Lasers swept Lesley University , 3-0, by scores of 25-13, 25-8, and 25-11. Lasell's record improves to 5-3 this season while the Lynx remain on a four game skid and end the night with an 0-4 slate. 

The Lasers came out swinging, making way for a 34-9 margin in kills throughout the contest. Mike Harrington (Billerica, MA) led all attackers with nine kills, also putting away two individual and two double blocks.  Max Vaughan (Wethersfield, CT) gave Lasell eight points on his swing while also collecting seven digs.  Libero Chris Burns (Chelmsford, MA) and outside hitter Alex Mill (Danville, NH) also scooped up seven digs each for Lasell, while Mill additionally handed out 10 helpers at the net.  Freshman setter Andrew Glenn (Westport, CT) registered 20 assists in the contest. 

For Lesley, Tyler Reeves (Coventry, CT) picked up seven digs while Zach Almeida-Beers (Rehoboth, MA) and Stephen Siragusa (Valley Stream, NY) each scooped up four balls on defense.  Siragusa also contributed seven assists.  

Harrington started the Lasers off right with a kill placed forcibly on the Lynx's attack line from the middle. After a point by Reeves for the visitors, Lesley pulled ahead 3-1 on Laser miscues. Micah Aiu (Honolulu, HI) got the side-out for Lasell allowing Harry Strobel (Westport, CT) to serve the next nine straight  points, which included five service aces during the stretch, bringing Lasell up to a 13-4 lead. 

Lasell hit a 10 point edge shortly thereafter, taking advantage of a Lynx hitting error to make the score 16-6.  After a Mill service ace, Lasell hit the 20-point mark and kill down the line by Vaughan brought Lasell to game-point, 24-13. A final service ace by Vaughan then closed the first set, 25-13.

Harrington started things off again in the second set producing a huge solo block in the middle to put Lasell on top. Kills by Mill, Strobel, and Harrington turned into a 6-0 run for the Lasers to hold Lesley at bay. Almeida-Beers broke up the Lasers hot streak with a cross court shot to the short corner, but Lasell immediately brought about a side-out on Vaughan's outside attack. A shoot across the net to Harrington gave Lasell a double-figure lead, 11-1, when he slammed it hard into a gap in the middle of the Lynx court.

Lasell enjoyed an 18-4 edge after a Vaughan serve found the back line of Lesley's court.  Lesley capitalized on Laser errors and used kills by Jason Moore (Brattleboro, VT) and Christian Domingo (Los Angeles, CA) to add points, but the Lasers had built too much of a lead and captured set two, 25-8.  

The Lasers came out on a 9-3 run early in the third set, executing on three service aces and kills by Strobel and Aiu. Lesley closed to within three points (10-7) early on but Lasell regrouped to form a 10-2 run, bringing the score to 20-9.  A Harrington service ace concluded the set and the match, 25-11. 

As a team, Lasell hit a .270 clip, converting 34-of-74 attacks into points on kills.  The Lasers also had an outstanding 20 service aces in the non-conference victory. 

Lasell begins Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Tuesday, February 1st when they host Rivier College at 7:00 p.m.