WESTON, Mass. - Regis College battled throughout the night but eventually lost to Endicott College, 3-0 (25-18, 25-20, 25-22), Tuesday night in a non-conference men's collegiate volleyball match at Higgins Court.
Joseph Perez (Miami, Fla.) led the Pride offense with 13 kills as Grant Wojcik (Bellingham, Mass.) dished out 26 assists. Defensively, Eddie Djatcha (Lowell, Mass.) paced the team with three total blocks, and Malakai DeHuelbes (Tucson, Ariz.) earned a career-high 11 digs as he led all players in that category.
Regis took an early 6-3 lead in the first set after a block by Francesco Buanne (Caserta, Italy) and Andrew Matzouranis (North Andover, Mass.), but Endicott responded with an 11-2 scoring run to pull ahead, 14-8. The Pride closed the margin to three points at 17-14 on a kill by Matzouranis, but the Gulls scored three quick points to extend their lead back to six points, and then the visitors would close out the opening set on a kill by Jake Laborde.
The Pride again took an early lead in the second set before the Gulls put together an 8-3 scoring run to pull ahead, 11-7. Two kills by Perez and a solo block by Djatcha brought Regis within two points, but Endicott slowly increased its lead to 19-14 thanks in part to two kills by Corey Klass Jr.
Regis scored four unanswered points on consecutive kills by Perez and a service ace from Buanne, but Endicott clinched the second set with a 6-2 scoring run, including service aces by Avery Tyson and Gavin Emenaker.
Endicott erased an early Regis advantage in the third set with a 6-1 scoring run, capped by a service ace from Mason Mallory. The Pride kept fighting, closing to within one point on four occasions, the last time at 17-16 on a kill by Wojcik.
A kill by Logan Pohl and a Regis attack error allowed the Gulls to increase their lead back to three points, and then the two teams exchanged points the rest of the set. Endicott closed out the set and the match on a kill by Laborde.
Laborde led the Gulls with 11 kills, while Klass Jr. finished with eight kills. Emenaker collected 16 assists, five digs, and two block assists, Tyson paced his team at the net with three block assists, and Adin Jepsky earned a team-high seven defensive digs.
Regis College (3-4) heads to Albany, N.Y., for a tri-match hosted by Russell Sage College Saturday, Feb. 10, starting at 12 p.m. Endicott (5-4) hosts nationally ranked Springfield College Friday, Feb. 9, beginning at 7 p.m.