MVB: Lasers split first conference tri-match; DeSouza thumps 13 kills in win

NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell University men's volleyball team split their two matches Sunday afternoon in the Athletic Center. The Lasers swept Regis College, 3-0 and fell to Rivier University 3-0.

The Lasers will play next Wednesday, February 19 at Nichols College in a non-conference contest.

Lasell 3, Regis 0

Junior Dillon DeSouza (Enfield, Conn.) led the way for the Lasers with 13 kills while hitting .579% out of the middle. Freshman Jesus Garcia (Honolulu, Hawaii) racked up a match-high 33 assists in the win while senior Scott Sterenberg (Oceanside, N.Y.) and freshman Brenden Joyce (Randolph, Mass.) each added six kills while hitting over .500% apiece.

The Lasers gained an early 13-6 lead over the Pride with a couple of service runs by Sterenberg and DeSouza. Regis cut the deficit to six after an attacking error by the home team but the Lasers would go on to end the set on a kill from DeSouza.

In the second set, the Lasers maintained control throughout the set. A quick three-point run with freshman Charles Lavoie (Honolulu, Hawaii) behind the service line gave the host a 12-4 lead in the second. The Lasers closed out the game with a six-point service run from Sterenberg to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

In the final set, Lasell found its offense again in the third. At 10-8 the Lasers scored seven straight points to pull ahead in the set. Another six-point run would give the Lasers a 23-9 advantage before a kill from freshman Garrett Linnell (Las Vegas, Nev.) gave the home team a 3-0 victory.

Rivier 3, Lasell 0

Junior Aaron Waitekus (Norwood, Mass.) totaled four kills on .250 hitting percentage in the loss while junior Cobi Moore (Danville, N.H.) had a team-high nine digs.

The first set was tight until late in the set at 19-16 when the Raiders went on a four-point run with freshman Thomas Miller (Clifton, N.Y.) at the service line. This separation proved too much for the Lasers to bounce back in the set.

Lasell dropped four quick points to trail early on in the set before a kill from Linnell stopped the run. At 24-17 the home team attempted to make a comeback with a three-point run but fell short in a 25-20 set two loss.

Late in the third, the Raiders led 17-12 before a service run from senior Pedro Campos (Downey Calif.) where the visitors scored six straight points to place the set out of reach for the Lasers. Rivier went on to win the set and match 3-0.

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