MVB: Lasers Dominate Tri-Match Against Dean College and Rivier University

Newton, MA- The Lasell College men's volleyball team had a stellar day on their home court, sweeping both matches in a tri-match against Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) rivals Dean College and Rivier University. The Lasers claimed victory in straight sets against Dean College, 3-0, and came from behind to defeat Rivier University, 3-2, in a thrilling five-set battle.

Lasell vs Dean

The Lasers took control from the first set and never looked back, securing the win with set scores of 25-19, 25-23, and 25-10.

Lasell (16-5, 7-1 GNAC) was led by senior outside hitter Theo Zaharewicz, who delivered a stellar performance with 14 kills, 3 errors, and a .524 hitting percentage. Zaharewicz finished with 16 points, leading the team in both offensive and defensive play. He was instrumental in Lasell's dominant attack, which registered 35 total kills and a .354 hitting percentage for the match.

Cody Bonilla was also a standout for the Lasers, dishing out 25 assists and adding 4.5 points to the team's total. His ability to set up his teammates and contribute defensively helped Lasell maintain control throughout the match. Lasell's defense was equally impressive, with the team totaling 14 digs and 10 blocks, effectively shutting down any attempts from Dean College to rally.

Lasell vs Rivier 

After dropping the first set 17-25, the Lasers rallied back to take the next two sets 25-22, 25-22, and won the final set 15-8 to secure their 17th win of the season.

Zaharewicz once again lead the Lasers offense, with an outstanding performance of 21 kills, and a .306 hitting percentage. Zaharewicz finished the match with 28.5 points, contributing significantly to the Lasers' offensive attack. His performance in critical moments of the match was pivotal to Lasell's win.

The Lasers were also strong defensively, with Carter Phillips adding 9 kills and 2 aces, and Benjamin Walinjom contributing 11 kills and 10 errors, while also playing a key role in Lasell's defense with 5 blocks. Trystan Maloney helped distribute the offense with 47 assists, leading the team to a total of 79 points.

The deciding fifth set was dominated by Lasell, who sealed the win with a 15-8 victory, backed by strong serving and clutch plays from Zaharewicz and Teddy Teraszkiewicz.

Up Next: The Lasers will hit the road this coming Tuesday, for a non-conference matchup against Endicott.