Men’s Volleyball Opens 2023 Campaign at Battle for the Boardwalk Friday

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.- The Eastern Nazarene College men's volleyball team started the 2023 season with a 3-0 loss to Belmont Abbey before falling to Fairleigh Dickinson 3-0 in exhibition action Friday at the Battle for the Boardwalk. Friday's contests marked the head coaching debut of Lions' first-year bench boss Corey Marks.  

ENC VS. BELMONT ABBEY
THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 0, Belmont Abbey 3
Records: Lions (0-1) | Crusaders (1-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED:                                  

• Belmont Abbey eked out a 25-23 win in the opening frame to grab a 1-0 edge.
• The Crusaders doubled their advantage to 2-0 with a 25-17 victory in the second set.
• Belmont Abbey prevailed 25-21 in the third to secure its first win of the year.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Alejandro Garcia Fernandez (San Juan, P.R.) posted a team-high 11 kills to go with six digs.
• Nathan Jacques (Casselberry, Fla.) finished with 20 assists in his collegiate debut.
• Delfy Soler (Lawrence, Mass.) added four kills and a pair of digs.

ENC VS. FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON
THE BASICS:
Score: Eastern Nazarene 0, Fairleigh Dickinson 3
Records: Lions (0-1) | Knights (0-0)

HOW IT HAPPENED:                                  

• Fairleigh Dickinson rolled to a 25-15 victory in the first set to establish a 1-0 lead.
• The Knights captured the second frame 25-17 to extend their advantage to 2-0.
• Fairleigh Dickinson capped off the sweep with a 25-21 decision in the third.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:

• Ian Pacheco (San Pedro Sula, Honduras) finished with a team-high six kills while adding four digs and one ace.
• Nathan Jacques (Casselberry, Fla.) collected four kills and four digs.
• Aaron Huang (Quincy, Mass.) dished out six assists and Christopher Gil (Lawrence, Mass.) chalked up four assists.
• Luis Palacio (Revere, Mass.) chipped in with three kills while Brandon Brown (Oxford, Pa.) notched four digs.

LOOKING AHEAD:

Eastern Nazarene wraps up action at the Battle for the Boardwalk with a pair of matches January 7. The Lions will face St. Francis Brooklyn in the matinee match before squaring off against American International.