Rivier too strong for Lasell Men’s Volleyball

NEWTON, Mass. – Rivier University captured its eighth straight victory Tuesday evening with a 3-0 victory over Lasell College in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) men's volleyball match at the Lasell Athletic Center.

The Raiders won by set scores of 25-19, 25-18 and 25-19 to improve to 19-6 overall and move to 10-0 in GNAC matches. Lasell drops to 6-17 overall and 3-5 in conference play.

Senior Grant Andler (Chicago, Ill.) led the visitors with 11 kills, while junior Dashaun Graham (Highland Falls, N.Y.) and sophomore David Smith (Clinton, Ohio) added seven winners apiece. Senior setter Garrett Bucklin (Jamestown, R.I.) made 30 assists and sophomore Cam Roth (Coventry, R.I.) led the team with nine digs.

The Lasers were held to a negative attack percentage (24-25-95), with junior setter Andy Henriquez (Lawrence, Mass.) leading the team with six kills. Freshman Conor Leary-Watson (Bethany, Conn.) smashed five winners and sophomore Janci Soto (Lawrence, Mass.) was good for four kills and a season-high seven blocks (two solo, five assists). Junior Jordan Aprea (Newington, Conn.) made a match-high 10 digs.

The score was close most of the first set, with ties at 5-5, 10-10, and 14-14. Rivier pulled ahead 18-14, but Lasell answered with five straight points to regain the lead, 19-18. The Raiders bounced back to close out the set with seven consecutive points, including two aces and a kill by Graham.

Rivier held a small lead early in the second set, but Lasell kept within a point or two. It was tied 8-8 when the Raiders went on an 8-1 surge to open up a 16-9 advantage. Lasell could not recover from that and Rivier took the set, 25-18.

Lasell came alive in the third set and held a slight lead much of the time. Rivier hung around and tied the score at 10-10 and again at 14-14 and 16-16 before a 6-1 run gave the visitors a 22-17 advantage. RIvier closed out the victory with another kill by Graham and a pair of Lasell attack errors.

The Lasers will look to bounce back in their next match on Thursday, March 29, when they host Emerson College in a key GNAC match-up at 7:00 pm. Rivier will also face the Lions in its next contest, traveling to Emerson on Saturday for a 12 noon match.

WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN: Prior to the match, both teams participated in the White Ribbon Campaign by taking a pledge to stand up and speak out against sexual and domestic violence.

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