Box Score BOSTON – All season long, the Johnson & Wales University men's volleyball team has just been on the verge of winning a number of close matches, but hasn't come through down the stretch. That was the same case on Tuesday as the Wildcats dropped a 3-1 (25-17, 23-25, 23-25, 18-25) decision at Emmanuel during the GNAC Tournament quarterfinals.
Records:
Johnson & Wales: 15-16
Emmanuel: 19-11
JWU Statistical Leaders:
Cameron Ponce: 36 Assists, 8 Digs, 2 Blocks
Kyle Eva: 10 Kills, .769 Hitting %, 4 Blocks
Alex Seda: 12 Kills, 5 Digs
Of Note:
Johnson & Wales played well offensively as it hit better than .300 for the first time since mid-March with a .330 clip. The Wildcats hit .542 en route to winning the first set 28-17. Senior Kyle Eva (Charlestown, RI) went on a five-point service run to build a 21-13 advantage.
The Wildcats had their chances in both the second and third sets, but service errors were their undoing. Johnson & Wales committed 19 service errors – one off their season-high. Emmanuel also had a 35-to-27 margin for digs.
Three Wildcats reached double-digit kills, topped by rookie Alex Seda's (San Jose, Calif.) 12 winners. Playing in the final match of their collegiate career, seniors Rakeem Malone (St. Thomas, USVI) and Eva had 10 each. Eva hit .769 and had four blocks to run his JWU career record to 321 total blocks. Setter Cameron Ponce (San Jose, Calif.) was two digs off his 11th double-double as he recorded 36 assists and eight digs.
JWU has a strong nucleus of players returning for the 2017 season led by Ponce, Seda and right side Brendan Baker. The Wildcats will have to fill the void in the middle left by Eva and Malone as well as top outside hitter Ryan Kennedy.
