#1 Men's Volleyball Stays Undefeated, Shoots Past #14 NYU in Four Sets

BOSTON, Mass. – Led by a season-high 24 kills from senior Jacob LaBouliere (Pipersville, Pa.), the top-ranked Wentworth Institute of Technology men's volleyball team (21-0) continued their dominance over the Division III landscape, taking down the No. 14-ranked New York University Violets (10-7) in four sets Sunday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Violets set out to a 9-4 advantage in the first set before two kills by senior Jacob Waga (East Northport, N.Y.) helped cut the deficit to 10-6. Behind 13-9, two kills by LaBouliere kickstarted a run that tied the set at 13-all. From there, the two teams traded scores before a kill by LaBouliere marked a 20-18 lead. Kills by LaBouliere and junior Sam Etter (Massillon, Ohio) helped the Leopards hold on to their comeback, clinching a 25-23 set win.
• NYU again got out to a 9-4 lead in the second set and carried their lead to 13-7. Two LaBouliere kills cut the deficit to 13-9 before NYU continued the lead to 15-10. Two kills by graduate student Brandon Dunz (Lake View, N.Y.) helped the Black & Gold stay in it, behind 16-12, but the Violets outpaced the Leopards the rest of the way, giving the visitors a 25-18 set win.
• The Leopards responded in the third set, taking a commanding 12-4 lead thanks to kills by LaBouliere, Waga, and sophomore Benjamin Moughon (Mercer Island, Wash.). Two kills by Waga continued the advantage to 18-8 before the hosts easily clinched a 25-12 set win off of a 6-0 run to end the frame.
• Kills by Moughon and sophomore Nicolai Bell (Moraga, Calif.) gave Wentworth a 4-1 lead in the fourth set before a LaBouliere finish continued the advantage to 9-5. Three kills by LaBouliere paced the Leopards to a 19-10 lead before three kills by Waga and another by Moughon gave Wentworth a 25-16 set win and a 3-1 match triumph.

SERIES NOTES:

• With today's win, the Black & Gold knot the all-time series at two wins apiece.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards host Emmanuel in conference action Thursday night.

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