NEWTON, Mass – Mount Ida is still in the search for setting the record for most wins in a season as they lost today 3-0 (25-10, 25-12, 25-17) to visiting Emerson College at Mount Ida College Athletic Center in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Thursday night.
The Mustangs (10-12) need just one more win to secure the record for most wins in a single season in school history.
The beginning of the game started with a few errors against Emerson College which allowed the Mustangs to jump out to a 3-1 lead, resulting in a very quick Lions timeout early on. After the timeout Emerson came out firing and went on a 12-4 run to put them up 6 against the Mustangs.
The Lions refused to let Mount Ida come back to within 6 points ever again and they posted a strong 25-11 first set win over the Mustangs.
The second set started just like the first where it was a back and forth battle early on. However, the Lions picked it up again by going on a 6-0 run led by Diego Garcia (Honolulu, HI.) who had two kills during that run.
The third set started with three consecutive service aces by senior Peter Griffenkranz (Deer Park, N.Y.) who kept the Mustangs within one of the Lions. Emerson yet again pulled away from Mount Ida by going on a dominant 8-0 run led by Diego Garcia and Stig Regan (Kailua, HI.).
Brett Southworth (Orange, Conn.) led the Mustangs with a team high 5 kills along with Nathan Sprengle (Williamstown, N.J.) who had a team high 10 assists.
Mark Piorkowski (Montclair, N.J.) led the Lions with a game high 11 kills in 15 attempts with only one error. Nick Rusk (Fort Lauderdale, Fl.) also led Emerson and the entire game in assists by posting an astounding 32 assists.
Mount Ida moves to 10-12 overall and 1-6 in GNAC play while Emerson moves to 8-8 overall and 2-4 in conference.
The Mustangs return to action on Saturday as they host nationally ranked Wentworth and Johnson and Wales University in a tri-match starting at 10am. Emerson also returns to action on Saturday as they host Emmanuel College at 12pm.