Wentworth Men's Volleyball Defeats Emerson, 3-1

BOSTON, Mass. – Senior Lowell Jesmer (Rochester, N.Y.) recorded 13 kills, two aces, and six blocks, while classmate Derek Portugal (Barrington, R.I.) recorded a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs as the Wentworth men's volleyball team (9-5) defeated Emerson (4-4), 3-1, in a non-conference match at Tansey Gymnasium.

The Leopards opened the first game with a 4-1 lead before the Lions would pull within a pair at 8-6.  Scoring six of the next seven points, the hosts pulled out to a 14-7 lead.  However, after an error that made the score 14-8, Emerson pulled within one at 14-13.  A service error gave Wentworth a 15-13 lead, and, despite the Lions scoring the next point to pull back within one, the Leopards slowly pulled away and took a 25-17 win.

After three early ties in the second game, Emerson jumped out to an 8-5 lead.  Wentworth would pull within one at 10-9, but that would be as close as the Leopards would come as the Lions used an 11-5 run to take a 21-14 lead, en route to 25-19 lead, tying the match at 1-all.

The opening of the third game saw the teams knot the score five times and on the final tie (9-9), it began a string of three straight Wentworth points which extended to an 8-2 run.  Emerson got as close as three at 16-13, but six straight Leopard points gave the hosts a comfortable lead and eventually a 25-15 lead.

Wentworth closed out the match in the fourth game with a 25-12 win as the Leopards came out of the gates flying, taking a 10-2 lead.  Emerson got within six at 16-10, but the Leopards scored nine of the last 11 points to take the game and the match.

Freshman Ross Burdett (Needham, Mass.) and senior Dan Mulvey (Halifax, Mass.) each added nine kills and three blocks to the Wentworth attack.  Sophomore Tyler Moriarty (Wilbraham, Mass.) had 40 assists and 11 digs while freshman Mike Buonincontra (Shelton, Conn.) and senior Marc Larue (Lincoln, R.I.) had 11 and nine digs, respectively.

Emerson sophomore Eric Doherty (Millis, Mass.) had six kills to lead the Lions, while freshman Chris Davis (Pasadena, Calif.) had seven digs and an ace.  Junior Steve Selnick (Cheshire, Conn.) dished out 19 assists.