MVB: Lasers Fall to Wentworth in GNAC Championship

Boston, MA – The Lasell University men's volleyball team's impressive postseason run came to an end Saturday afternoon, as the No. 2-seeded Lasers fell in straight sets to No. 1 Wentworth Institute of Technology in the GNAC Championship match at Tansey Gymnasium.

Set scores were 25–22, 25–20, 25–23, as the Leopards secured their fourth consecutive GNAC title.

Lasell came out aggressive and confident, pushing Wentworth in every set and showing no hesitation against the defending champs. The Lasers recorded a .293 team hitting percentage, including a blistering .346 in Set 2 and .333 in Set 3, showing just how tight and competitive the match was from start to finish.

Theo Zaharewicz was a force offensively, leading all players with 13 kills on a .364 hitting percentage, while also contributing 3 digs and 3 block assists. Senior Dexter Thomas was equally efficient at the net, notching 7 kills on 13 swings (.462) and adding 1 solo block and 4 total blocks. Setter Trystan Maloney orchestrated the offense with 34 assists, spreading the ball to multiple hitters and keeping Wentworth's defense on their toes. Lasell had four players with five or more kills, including Benjamin Walinjom (7 kills, .375) and Jasper Schultz (5 kills, .273).

Defensively, Lasell dug in to try to slow down Wentworth's high-powered attack. Libero Ryan Mesnik led the back row with 12 digs, while Zaharewicz and Maloney added 3 and 6 digs respectively. At the net, the Lasers combined for 10 block assists and 2 solo blocks, consistently challenging Wentworth's hitters. Despite being swept, the Lasers were within striking distance in every set. In Set 3, Lasell erased a late deficit to come within one point at 23–24, before Wentworth closed the match on a final kill. 

Following the match both Dexter Thomas and Ryan Mesnik were named to the GNAC All-Tournament team. Thomas put up a .462 hitting percentage against the Leopards and tallied 5 blocks. Mesnik held down the defense for the Lasers, putting up 12 digs on the match. 

The 2025 season saw Lasell take major strides as a program. The Lasers defeated multiple regionally ranked opponents, notched 12 conference wins, and showcased one of the most balanced lineups in the GNAC. While the championship slipped just out of reach, the Lasers have positioned themselves as a perennial contender in the conference and will return key contributors heading into 2026.