Jesmer, Portugal Earn NECVA Honors

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Two members of Wentworth's record-setting men's volleyball team have been honored by the North East Collegiate Volleyball Association by being named Second Team All-New England Division.  Seniors Lowell Jesmer (Rochester, N.Y.) and Derek Portugal (Barrington, R.I.), who have helped the Leopards set five program records, including wins in a season represent Wentworth on the all-division team.

Jesmer, a four-year letterwinner and three-year captain, has played in all 30 of Wentworth's matches this season recording a hitting percentage of .337 with 233 kills, 34 aces, 78 blocks, and 323 points.  A Second Team All-NECVA New England Division selection in 2010, his hitting percentage this season is the eighth-best single season percentage in program history, while his 34 aces tie him for eighth.  In 94 career matches (310 games), he had 836 kills, a hitting percentage of .337, 97 aces, 237 blocks, and 1,096 points.  He ranks in Wentworth's top five all-time statistically in 10 categories, including kills (second), aces (second), and hitting percentage (third).

Portugal, also a four-year letterwinner and a captain of this year's squad, has played in 27 of the Leopards' matches this season and has amassed 266 kills, 33 aces, 167 digs, 44 blocks, and 332.5 points.  Honored as the NECVA New England Division Player of the Week on Feb. 7, he recorded four double-doubles this season, including a 16-kill, 16-dig performance in a 3-2 win at Daniel Webster on March 22.  In 88 career matches, Portugal has 633 kills, 109 aces, 379 digs, 192 blocks, and 875 points.  He set a single-season program record with 51 aces as a junior and ranks among the top five on Wentworth's all-time list in the categories of aces (first), aces per game (first), and digs (fifth).

Under the direction of second-year head coach Rob Mullowney the Leopards have posted a 20-10 record this season, breaking the program record for wins, which was set during the 2000 season.  Wentworth awaits word on its first invitation to the ECAC North Region Tournament, which will be announced on Monday, April 4.