Boston, Mass. (Jan. 20, 2018) - Alvernia University (1-1) opened the season with a tri-match split Saturday afternoon at Emmanuel College.  The Golden Wolves dropped a 3-1 match to MIT then bounced back with a 3-2 win over Emmanuel.

The Golden Wolves fought off two set points in the first set against MIT to level the score at 24-all, but the Engineers got back-to-back kills from Andrew Callahan for a 1-0 lead.  MIT moved ahead 2-0 with a 25-19 win in the second set, but Alvernia answered with an impressive 25-15 win in the third set before MIT closed the match with a 25-21 win in the fourth.

Ralph Lunati III pounded down a match-high 16 kills and three players finished with a .333 attack percentage including freshman Josh Stewart who had eight kills on 18 swings.  Justin Gibbs finished with 42 assists in the opening match.

Alvernia won the second and third set in the second match then needed a 15-11 in the fifth set for the match win.  Emmanuel opened up a 6-3 lead in the final set, but Alvernia responded with five of the next six points to take an 8-7 lead.  Myles Thomas had a block and a kill in the run and Logan McGinley gave Alvernia the 8-7 lead with an ace.

Leading 11-10 Alvernia scored three straight to get to match point then after a point for the Saints, Lunati III ended the match with a kill.

McGinley had a team-high 13 kills and Gibbs had 39 assists.

Alvernia returns home to host a quad match next Friday and Saturday.

MIT 3, Alvernia 1 (Match One)

Alvernia 3, Emmanuel 2 (Match Two)