The Mount Ida College men's volleyball team snapped a five game losing streak with a 3-0 shut Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory over visiting Albertus Magnus College Saturday afternoon in Newton, Massachusetts by scores of 25-14, 25-20, and 25-17. The Mustangs capture their first win of the year (1-5) for both overall and conference purposes. The Falcons continue their winless streak at 0-4, 0-3 in league play.
The Mustangs jumped ahead to a 6-2 lead to start game one following a combined block by junior's McCoy Arnoux (Brockton, MA/Brockton) and Franklin McCaffrey (East Greenwich, RI/East Greenwich). The visitors countered powering a 6-0 run taking an 8-6 advantage, their first of the stanza, after consecutive errors by the hosts. Mount Ida came right back pulling ahead by four up 15-11 after an error by the visitors. Senior captain Thomas Belton (Springfield, MA/Springfield Central) closed out game one with three consecutive service aces and a Falcon error for the 25-14 win up 1-0 in the match.
Game two was controlled by the Mustangs taking an immediate 4-1 advantage after a Belton and Arnoux kill. The hosts would proceed to go ahead by 9-3 after another Belton kill. The visitors pulled within four points after a service error by the Mustangs, 13-9. Mount Ida eventually went ahead by a game high nine points (19-10) after another Belton kill. The Falcons attempted to make a comeback pulling within four points (24-20) on multiple errors by Mount Ida. A visitors service error gave Mount Ida the 25-20 game two win leading 2-0 in the match.
The Mustangs took a 4-3 game three advantage following a stretch of errors by the visitors. The hosts would relinquish the lead following another with a freshman Chris Pfeffer (Torrington, CT/Wolcott Tech) kill down 8-6. The Falcon lead was short lived with the Mustangs powering a 6-0 run following four sophomore Spencer Hastings (Orlando, FL/Timber Creak) service aces up 15-10. Five straight errors by the visitors gave Mount Ida a commanding 20-12 lead. A final solo block by senior Ryan Faer (Newton, MA/Cambridge/Weston) gave the Mustangs the 25-17 game three win and the 3-0 GNAC win for their first of the season.
Hastings led the Mustangs all day with nine kills, six service aces, five digs, and a solo block. Arnoux also added nine kills and two block assists while freshman Nick Schibi (Torrington, CT/O. Wolcott Reg. Voc-Tech) chipped in three kills. Belton was impressive with seven kills, six service aces, and a dig. Senior setter Shane Wilson (Gloucester, MA/Gloucester) dished out 26 assists.
The Mustangs will travel to Johnson & Wales University this coming Wednesday in Providence, Rhode Island for more GNAC action with game time slated for 7:00 p.m.