Men’s Volleyball Upsets Emmanuel Before Falling to Rivier in GNAC Championship Match

NASHUA, NH-  Ranked in third place entering the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship Tournament on Saturday, Lasell College men's volleyball upset no. 2 seeded Emmanuel College, 3-1, in their first match of the day before falling to the no. 1 seed, and eventual 2011 GNAC Champion Rivier College, 3-1, in match two.

GNAC Rookie of the Year, and First Team All-Conference recipient Andrew Glenn (Westport, CT), along with sophomore outside hitter Spencer Parker (Newington, CT), were selected to the All-Tournament team for their efforts in leading the Lasers to the finals for the first time since entering the conference in 2008.  

After having been swept by the Saints, 3-0, in both of their previous match ups this season, the Lasers surprised Emmanuel in the semi-final round of play with scores of 25-23, 18-25, 25-20, and 25-23.  The win avenged losses to the Saints during the semi-final round of the GNAC Tournament in both 2009 and 2010. 

As a team, Lasell swung for an impressive .307 clip against the Saints, completing 50 kills on 101 total attacks with 19 errors.  Glenn dished out 40 assists on those 50 kills, adding four defensive pick-ups while Parker hit for a game-best 19 kills, while connecting with the floor on 38.7% of his attacks.  Parker also recorded two service aces and four blocks for Lasell.

Harry Strobel (Westport, CT) finished the contest hitting 50% overall, earning 13 points off his attack, while also collecting a game-high eight digs.  GNAC Second Team All-Conference honoree Mike Harrington (Billerica, MA) and sophomore outside hitter Alex Mill (Danville, NH) knocked down seven kills each against the Saints and senior middle Micah Aiu (Honolulu, HI) closed on seven blocks for Lasell.

In the championship game, Lasell fell behind two sets (25-20, 25-16) before regrouping to take the third set 25-22.  Rivier captured their fourth straight GNAC title with a final set of 25-17.  Jared Andreozzi (Barrington, RI) was named the tournament MVP after a combined 28 kills against Johnson & Wales and Lasell. 

Parker swatted 13 kills for Lasell in the second match of the afternoon, adding three digs, two aces and two blocks.  Strobel followed by slamming down eight kills and recording eight digs against the nationally ranked Raiders who were slated at 11th in the latest AVCA Division III Men's Top 15 Coaches Poll. Mill added five kills, eight digs and three blocks and Glenn finished the afternoon with 26 assists, four kills, four digs, and two blocks. 

Lasell awaits word on the 2011 NECVA Tournament and the 2011 ECAC Division III New England Tournament to determine when their next contest in the post-season will take place. 

2011 GNAC Men's Volleyball All-Tournament Team

MVP-Jared Andreozzi    - Rivier

Andrew Glenn   - Lasell

Steve Visentin   -Rivier

Spencer Parker   -Lasell

Drew Corwin     - Rivier

 Curtis Abram    - Emmanuel

Eric Minnich     -Johnson & Wales