BEVERLY, Mass. – A career-high 20 kills for junior Ryan Roller (West Hartford, Conn.) paced the No. 3-ranked Wentworth Institute of Technology men's volleyball team (26-1) to a four-set triumph over the Endicott Gulls (11-10) in non-conference action Wednesday night.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The two teams kept it tight in the first set, with Wentworth taking a 7-6 edge on back-to-back kills by senior Jacob LaBouliere (Pipersville, Pa.). A kill by freshman Conner Foxwell (Harrisburg, Pa.) pushed the lead to 11-7 before Endicott later rallied to take a 19-16 lead. Wentworth came back, knotting the score at 21 aside before taking a one-point lead on a LaBouliere kill. However, three straight points for the Gulls later gave the hosts a narrow 25-23 set win.
• A kill by Roller gave the Leopards a 4-3 edge in the second frame before another helped push the lead to 9-6. A string of kills by LaBouliere, Roller, and junior Sam Etter (Massillon, Ohio) marked a 13-9 score before two more kills, one apiece for Etter and Roller, helped the Leopards to 23-15 lead. Kills by Roller and junior Josh Milke (Eastampton, N.J.) clinched Wentworth a 25-17 set win, tying the match at one-all.
• Wentworth raced out to a 3-1 lead in the third set on three kills by Roller before a kill by LaBouliere later pushed the lead to 10-6. A kill by Roller continued the advantage to 14-7 before a kill by LaBouliere marked a 20-11 lead. A Roller kill helped the Leopards grab a 25-17 set win.
• The two teams swapped scores to open the fourth set before the Leopards separated themselves with a 10-7 lead on three kills in four sequences by LaBouliere. Three straight kills by Roller pushed the lead to 13-8 before another kill and service ace by Roller extended the lead to 18-10. Two kills by Roller and another by graduate student Brandon Dunz (Lake View, N.Y.) marked a 23-18 advantage before a kill by Roller claimed a 25-21 set win.

SERIES NOTES:

• The Black & Gold have won five straight against the Gulls.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards host Regis and Rivier on Saturday to cap off the regular season.
  
  

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