Lasell Takes Down No. 13 MIT and Vassar in Men’s Volleyball Tri-Match

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lasell College outlasted Vassar College (34-36, 25-21, 25-20, 25-16) and No. 13 MIT (25-17, 17-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-11) in a non-conference men's volleyball tri-match on Saturday at MIT. Earlier in the day, Vassar battled MIT for a 31-29, 25-21, 21-25, 22-25, 19-17 United Volleyball Conference victory.

Vassar def. No. 13 MIT, 3-2 (31-29, 25-21, 21-25, 22-25, 19-17)

Senior Alex Klein (San Diego, Calif.) amassed a match-high 25 kills, a .352 hitting percentage, and eight blocks for MIT (14-9, 2-4 UVC). Sophomore Sean Kropp (Fairless Hills, Pa.) posted 11 kills as freshman Jack Serrino (Glencoe, Ill.) totaled nine kills and seven blocks. Sophomore Martin Krasuski (Aurora, Ill.) generated nine kills, eight digs, and two blocks while junior Brendan Chang (Laytonsville, Md.) compiled 55 assists, 13 digs, and three blocks. Sophomore Jordan Lucier (Torrance, Calif.) collected 18 digs as senior Andrew Busse (Mount Prospect, Ill.) tacked on five blocks.

Freshman Jorge Rivera (Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico) powered Vassar (13-11, 1-4 UVC) with 20 kills, a .311 hitting effort, and 12 digs. Sophomore Quinn Rutledge (Chesterfield, Va.) was next for the Brewers with 19 kills as junior Reno Kriz (Breiningsville, Pa.) tallied 17 kills, eight digs, and six blocks. Freshman Matthew Knigge (New Egypt, N.J.) produced 14 kills, a .462 hitting performance, seven digs, and five blocks while junior Erik Halberg (Newark, Del.) rounded out the front row with five blocks. Freshman Zechariah Lee (Santa Clarita, Calif.) racked up 71 assists and 11 digs as sophomore Trey Cimorelli (Orchard Park, N.Y.) finished with 18 digs.

 
Lasell def. Vassar, 3-1 (34-36, 25-21, 25-20, 25-16)

Junior Jeff Vautrin (Chicopee, Mass.) posted a team-high 16 kills and hit .323 for Lasell (17-5) while senior Dan Raffol (Natick, Mass.) had 13 kills and six digs. Junior Drew Caruso (Haverhill, Mass.) recorded 12 kills on 18 errorless attempts to go along with a match-high eight blocks. Sophomore Patrick McDonald (Floral Park, N.Y.) contributed nine kills and four blocks as junior Andrew Glenn (Westport, Conn.) registered 49 assists and 11 digs. 

Rivera once again led the way for Vassar as he racked up a match-high 20 kills and added seven digs. Kriz and Rutledge both posted 10 kills as Kriz chipped in six digs. Senior Colin White-Dzuro (Toronto, Canada) tallied 48 assists and eight digs while Cimorelli collected 12 digs.

Lasell def. No. 13 MIT, 3-2 (25-17, 17-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-11)

Klein compiled 21 kills, seven digs, and four blocks as Krasuski contributed 13 kills, followed by 11 from Kropp. Freshman Andrew Hall (Lynnfield, Mass.) earned five blocks while Busse added four to MIT's cause. Sophomore Suyash Fulay (Wexford, Pa.) generated a team-high 12 digs as senior Chris Omahan (Mount Vernon, Ohio) and Lucier both had eight of their own. Chang totaled 29 assists and five digs while freshman Steve Lonhart (Santa Cruz, Calif.) dished out 22 assists.

Vautrin led all players with 31 kills and registered 11 digs as Raffol totaled 12 kills, eight digs, and three blocks. Caruso bolstered the Lasers' attack with 10 kills while McDonald powered the defense with 17 digs. Sophomore Tristan Davis (Rochester, N.Y.) made seven blocks as Glenn finished with 54 assists and 11 digs.

Next up for MIT will be a home match against Emmanuel College on Wednesday, March 18. Lasell continues its road trip on Saturday, March 21 at Johnson & Wales University where it will also face Rivier University in a tri-match. Vassar will resume action on Thursday, March 26 with a trip to Brooklyn College.

Recap Courtesy of MIT Sports Information