BOSTON, Mass. – Freshman Don Dias (Scituate, R.I.) recorded 18 kills and four blocks to help the Johnson & Wales men's volleyball team rally from a 2-0 deficit and defeat Wentworth Institute of Technology, 3-2, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action.
The host Leopards took a 25-22 win in the opening game, thanks in part to five kills from freshman Nate Perry (Fall River, Mass.) and four from sophomore Ross Burdett (Needham, Mass.). A tightly contested second game saw Wentworth edge the Wildcats by a 25-23 score, thanks to committing just one attack error on 30 swings (.433 attack percentage). Perry had seven kills, while Burdett added five in the win.
Johnson & Wales bounced back to take the third game by a 25-21 score as the Leopards were held to a match-low .130 attack percentage, despite five more kills from Perry.
In the fourth game Wentworth held a six-point lead but the Wildcats would force a deciding game with a 25-23 win and, after a back and forth opening to the fifth game, Johnson & Wales built a 9-5 lead and never looked back, taking the 3-2 win with a 15-10 triumph.
Sophomore Shawn Kennedy (West Barnstable, Mass.) added 11 kills and 16 digs for the Wildcats while classmate Dan Struebing (Coventry, R.I.) had 10 kills and six blocks. Freshman J.J. Bessette (Coventry, R.I.) had 48 assists and 11 digs and sophomore Alex Viera (Bay Shore, N.Y.) finished with a team-high 22 digs.
Perry recorded 24 kills and 15 digs for the Black & Gold, with Burdett adding 14 kills and 16 digs. Junior Tyler Moriarty (Wilbraham, Mass.) had 40 assists, 12 digs, and four blocks, while junior Rick Pignataro (Wilbraham, Mass.) had a match-high 27 digs.
With the win Johnson & Wales ups its win streak for five, improving to 10-8 overall and 4-4 in GNAC play. The Wildcats will be participating in the Endicott Tournament this weekend. Wentworth falls to 10-6 (5-3) and will be at the Springfield Tournament this weekend.
