AUBURNDALE, Mass. – The 13th-ranked Wentworth Institute of Technology men's volleyball team was handed its first Great Northeast Athletic Conference loss of the season as the Leopards were upset by Lasell, 3-0.
With the win the Lasers improve to 13-3 overall and 4-1 in GNAC play while the Leopards fall to 13-4 (4-1).
Lasell hit a blistering .593 in the opening set, breaking open a 9-9 set with an 8-2 run to make it 17-11. Wentworth would come within five again at 18-13, however the Lasers scored seven of the next eight points to take a 25-14 win. Sophomore Jake Reed (Arvada, Colo.) had two kills and four digs in the set.
The second set saw seven ties and five lead changes as Wentworth held an early, 7-4 lead. The last tie would come at 9-all on a sophomore Mike Hansen (Rochester, N.Y.) kill. A 7-2 Laser run gave the hosts a 16-11 lead before the Leopards clawed back to pull within four (17-13) on a kill from freshman Sean Mullen (Longwood, Fla.). However, Lasell responded with a 6-1 run and would eventually take the set 25-17. Mullen (four kills) and Reed (three kills) paced Wentworth's offense in the set.
Looking to snap a seven-match series losing streak, the Lasers would lead for almost the entire third set and built an eight-point lead at 16-8. Wentworth came back and pulled within one at 18-17, however the hosts completed the sweep with a 25-22 win. Reed and classmate Alex Potts (Niverville, N.Y.) had three kills each.
Reed finished with eight kills, while Mullen had six kills, three aces, and three blocks. Potts and Hansen had four kills each, with Potts also adding a pair of blocks. Sophomore Collin Ritter (Feeding Hills, Mass.) had 20 assists.
Wentworth hosts Newbury on Saturday night.
