PROVIDENCE, RI –  The Johnson & Wales University men's volleyball team convincingly moved in the opening round of the GNAC Tournament. The Wildcats topped Emmerson College, 3-0 (25-16, 25-20, 25-19) on Tuesday.

Record:
Emerson: 11-14
Johnson & Wales: 21-10

Statistical Leaders:
Sanjae Holloway (JWU): 11 kills vs. 7 digs
Cameron Ponce (JWU): 37 assists, 8 digs
Mark Piorkowsk (EC): 11 kills, 11 digs

Of Note:
Johnson & Wales moves on to the semifinals where it will face Wentworth at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The Wildcats and Leopards split this year.

With the victory, the Wildcats set the program's single-season win mark. Three previous JWU squads had reached the 20-win mark.

A Mark Piorkowski kill got the Lions within 10-9 in the first set, but the Wildcats used an 8-2 run to pull away. JWU would find itself down, 10-4, but rallied to take an 18-17 lead on a Ben Sandt kill. JWU finished the set on a 21-10 run.

Emerson could not keep up with the Wildcats' offense. Johnson & Wales hit .337 while the visitors were held to a .067 rate.

Setter Cameron Ponce ran a diverse offense with four players recording six or more kills. Jack Pincince and Sanjae Holloway had 11 kills each.

Michael Smoose

Associate Athletics Director

Johnson & Wales University

401-598-1632

http://providence.jwuathletics.com/

@JWUathleticsPVD