Men's Volleyball Sweeps Elmira, Rutgers-Newark at Dome Invitational

NEWARK, N.J. (1/21/17) – The Lasell men's volleyball team earned two straight set victories against Elmira and Rutgers-Newark at The Dome Invitational on Saturday afternoon.

Lasell: 3 Elmira: 0

By set scores of 25-17 and 25-21, the Lasers never trailed in the opening two sets before Elmira forced extra points in the last frame. Down 21-16, seniors Patrick MacDonald (Floral Park, N.Y.) and Jeffrey Vautrin (Chicopee, Mass.) combined for four of the Lasers' next six points, before classmate Tristan Davis (Rochester, N.Y.) smashed a kill to level the game at 23-all. The score remained at a deadlock until an Elmira attack error put Lasell at match-point, where newcomer Saunoa Afoa (Las Vegas, Nev.) swung into a service ace to seal the 27-25 final.

MacDonald started the year off right on a .562 swing percentage (10-of-16) with two service aces for a team-high 12.0 points. Davis racked up 11 points via nine kills and two aces, while Vautrin and Afoa scored 10.5 and 10 points respectively. The Lasers were led defensively by sophomore Jordan Aprea with eight digs (Newington, Conn.).

Mark Kawecki led the Soaring Eagles on 11 kills (11 pts.) to outscore all teammates, as seven kills, an ace, and two block assists gave Matthew Buffum nine points.  All but one of Elmira's assists came from Jeremy Best, with 28 overall.

Lasell: 3 Rutgers-Newark: 0

Davis unleashed in the second game of the afternoon, as the senior converted on 11-of-22 attack attempts with a trio of service aces. His 14.5 points was a team-best in the Lasers' participation in Invite, as Vautrin followed with eight kills.

Corey Pieper scored a double-double in the deficit to lead the Scarlet Raiders, as 10 kills and 10 digs paced Rutgers-Newark offensively and defensively. Pieper doubled-up on his teammates' stat lines, as Justin Sandy was the closest follower with five kills.

The Lasers topped the Scarlet Raiders by scores of 25-21, 25-20, and 25-22, as they head back to Newton with a 2-0 overall record. Lasell is back on the road next weekend for the Johnson and Wales Invitational, and will face MIT, Regis, Bard, and Endicott in the annual event.