Wentworth Defeats Emerson, 3-1, to Record Fourth Straight Win

(Courtesy of Emerson Sports Information)

BOSTON, Mass. – Wentworth Institute of Technology rallied from a disappointing second game loss to take the next two games and defeat Emerson College 3-1 in non-conference men's volleyball action at Emerson's Brown & Plofker Gym.

After taking the first game by a 30-21 count, the Leopards roared out to 9-0 and 10-1 leads in the second game, and led 24-13 before the Lions staged a remarkable comeback.  Following an Emerson time-out when Wentworth opened the 11 point edge, Jesse Hangen '10 (Herndon, Va.) scored a point off a block to regain the serve for the Lions.

Garret Mercer '11 (Arlington, Va.) served consecutive points on a net violation by Wentworth and a block by Justin Chun '13 (Honolulu, Hi.).  A kill by the Leopards' Lowell Jesmer '11 (Rochester, N.Y.) regained the serve but Jeff Ackerstein '12 (Newton, Mass.) answered with a successful attack of his own to make the score 25-17.  Ackerstein then sandwiched two service aces around a ball handling error by Wentworth for a 20-25 score.

Ackerstein lost service on a service error, but two Eric Doherty '13 (Millis, Mass.) kills pulled Emerson to within 22-26.  An attack error by the Leopards closed the gap to 23-26, but an Emerson service error reopened the four point advantage.

Emerson scored three straight points off a Doherty kill, a Wentworth error, and a Steve Selnick '12 (Cheshire, Conn.) block.  A Tom Ceurvels '11 (Weymouth, Mass.) serve stemmed the tide momentarily, but a service error and an Ackerstein attack knotted the game at 28.

The teams traded the next four points with Wentworth assuming the lead and Emerson responding.  The Lions took their first lead at 31-30 on a Hangen kill, but a service error tied the game again.  A net violation by the Leopards and a service error by Emerson made the score 32-32.  Kills by Hangen and Doherty earned the Lions the 34-32 final score.

Wentworth dominated game three breaking out to a 13-4 lead never looking back.  Jesmer had a big game with six kills, three service aces, and two blocks.  His two consecutive kills ended the game for a 30-13 Leopard victory.

The fourth game was close through the first 13 points with Wentworth holding a 7-6 lead.  A 6-0 run was fueled by Emerson errors and the Lions had a service error, an attack error, and two net violations.  The Leopards extended the lead to 10 at 17-7 on a Jesmer kill.  Emerson refused to lie down, going on an 18-7 run to pull within 25-26 on a Wentworth attack error.  Wentworth regained its composure and took the next four points on an Emerson error, a kill by Derek Portugal '11 (Barrington, R.I.), a block by Portugal and Jesmer, and another successful Portugal attack for a 30-25 victory.