Men’s Volleyball Sweeps Mount Ida, Falls to Sage in Season-Opening Tri-Match

NEWTON, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College men's volleyball team kicked off its second varsity season with a 3-0 victory over Mount Ida followed by a 3-0 setback to Sage Saturday afternoon at Mount Ida's Athletic Center.

The Lions move to 1-1 on the year with the results. The Mustangs fall to 0-2 overall while the Gators improve to 1-3 on the season.

Kenny Sorensen (Quincy, Mass.) paced the team with 28 kills, 24 digs, and a pair of aces on the day. An All-NECC second team selection a year ago, Sorensen notched a double-double in Eastern Nazarene's first match of the afternoon as he posted 16 kills and 19 digs.

Andrew Jayne (Quincy, Mass.) collected 14 digs, six kills, and served four aces. Matthew Tyree (Lansdale, Pa.) registered 42 assists and 11 digs. Brandon Jenkins (Norton, Mass.) finished with 12 digs and five kills while Andrew Shaw (Weymouth, Mass.) also tallied 12 digs.

In the opening match, the Lions blanked Mount Ida 3-0 in the first-ever meeting between the two squads.

Eastern Nazarene captured the first frame 25-19 before edging Mount Ida 29-27 in a tight second set.

The Lions cruised to a 25-8 win in the third to cap off the sweep.

Eastern Nazarene wrapped up the afternoon with a 3-0 loss to Sage.

The Gators grabbed the opening set 25-10 to establish a 1-0 lead.

Sage doubled its advantage to 2-0 with a 25-16 victory in the second frame and claimed the third 25-15 to earn its first win of the year.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene will host Pine Manor January 31 in the first home match of the 2018 campaign. The Lions posted a 5-4 record at the Lahue Physical Education Center last season.