Men's Volleyball Falls to MIT, Lasell On Day 1 of JWU Invitational

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Regis (Mass.) men's volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on Friday, falling to MIT and Lasell in back-to-back contests on Day 1 of the JWU Invitational. Regis fell to MIT in four sets (25-21, 25-22, 23-25, 25-19) for the second time this season then suffered a sweep to Lasell. Both matches were played at the Wildcat Center.

The loss to the Engineers came just days after the two teams squared off in the Pride's season opener, also a four-set win for MIT (5-1). Sean Bisnett (Oxnard, Calif.) led the way for Regis (0-3) with 12 kills, five digs and a pair of blocks. Drew Beimel (Redondo Beach, Calif.) proved to be a force on both sides of the net despite the loss, tallying 10 kills and posting nine blocks.

The Pride fell behind by two sets but avoided the sweep with a narrow 25-23 set-three win. Regis led by four points midway through the frame but MIT tied the score at 12-12 after a pair of Steven Timberman (Merrick, N.Y.) kills. The Pride would again go up four and hold on to push the match to a fourth set.

Tavish Smith (Laguna Beach, Calif.) had a match-high 13 kills for the Engineers with Jordan Lucier (Torrance, Calif.) recording 12 digs, also a match best.

Regis was unable to find its first win with a straight-set loss to Lasell (4-0) in the nightcap. Marcos Aguirre (Norwalk, Calif.) hit at a .471 (10-2-17) clip while Christopher Fitta (Warwick, R.I.) added a match-high eight digs. Joe Hanrahan (Coventry, R.I.) added four aces to his 28 assists.

The Pride clawed its way back after a sizable set one deficit. A pair of Aguirre kills helped slice into a six-point Lasell lead midway through the set, then Regis made it all the way back when Beimel won a point off his serve to tie the score at 23-23. The Pride would be unable to pull of the first-set win however.

Regis had a golden opportunity to even the match in set two when blocks by Beimel and Brett Krahl (Santa Clarita, Calif.) put the Pride up 19-11. An 11-2 run Lasell run ensued however, quickly changing the momentum and after a Bisnett miscue the set was tied at 21-21. The two teams traded points down the stretch but it was Lasell who came out on top and set the stage for the eventual sweep.

Jeffrey Vautrin (Chicopee, Mass.) delivered a match-high 20 kills for Lasers.

The Pride has a quick turnaround for Day 2 of the tournament. Regis plays host Johnson & Wales (RI) Saturday at 9:00 a.m. then close the Invitational against Bard at 11:00 a.m.

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