Men’s Volleyball Scores Two Thrilling Five-Set Victories Saturday

QUINCY, Mass.- The Eastern Nazarene College men's volleyball team edged Emerson 3-2 before outlasting Kean 3-2 Saturday afternoon at the Lahue Athletic Center.

The host Lions improve to 4-6 on the season with the two wins. The visiting Lions of Emerson fell to 1-3 overall while the Cougars slip to 4-1 on the year.

Alejandro Garcia Fernandez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) racked up 43 kills, 12 digs, seven service aces, and five total blocks on the day. Jacob Zarges (Quincy, Mass.) posted 17 kills, 15 digs, and four aces in the two matches. Ian Pacheco (San Pedro Sula, Honduras) contributed with 15 kills and 11 digs. Aaron Huang (Quincy, Mass.) tallied 72 assists with 11 digs. Fernando Paredes (Passaic, N.J.) finished with 23 digs on the afternoon.

In the matinee contest, Eastern Nazarene clipped Emerson 3-2.

Alejandro Garcia Fernandez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) posted 23 kills to go with nine digs and three aces. Jacob Zarges (Quincy, Mass.) tallied a career-high 13 kills with six digs and three aces. Ian Pacheco (San Pedro Sula, Honduras) added nine kills while Matthew Mucha (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.) chipped in with six kills. Aaron Huang (Quincy, Mass.) finished with 39 assists and Fernando Paredes (Passaic, N.J.) recorded 12 digs.

Eastern Nazarene established a 1-0 lead with a 25-21 victory in the opening set.

The home side widened the margin to 2-0 with a 25-22 decision in the second frame.

Emerson cut the deficit to 2-1 after claiming the third set 25-19.

The visitors pulled even at 2-2 with a 25-21 win in the fourth.

Eastern Nazarene bounced back to capture the fifth frame 15-11. Back-to-back kills by Garcia Fernandez locked up the Lions' second-straight victory over Emerson.

In the nightcap, Eastern Nazarene outdueled previously-unbeaten Kean in a five-set battle.

Alejandro Garcia Fernandez (San Juan, Puerto Rico) paced the Lions with 20 kills and four service aces. Ian Pacheco (San Pedro Sula, Honduras) finished with six kills in the match. Aaron Huang (Quincy, Mass.) dished out 33 assists to go with five digs. Fernando Paredes (Passaic, N.J.) registered 11 digs while Jacob Zarges (Quincy, Mass.) notched nine digs.

The hosts rolled to a 25-14 win in the first to seize a 1-0 advantage and the Cougars answered with a 25-18 victory in the second set to knot the match at 1-1.

The Lions eked out a hard-fought 28-26 decision in the third to regain a one-set edge, 2-1.

Kean prevailed 25-19 in the fourth set to force a winner-take-all fifth frame.

In the fifth, Eastern Nazarene fell behind early and clawed its way back to tie the set at 12-12. After the Cougars grabbed a 13-12 lead, the Lions pulled even at 13-13 on an attack error before two kills by Garcia Fernandez locked up the 15-13 come-from-behind victory.

Looking ahead, Eastern Nazarene hosts Regis February 10.