The Lasell men's volleyball team has had an impressive start to the season. After losing to Wentworth in last year’s finals, the team is more motivated than ever. With a current record of 12-4 overall and 3-1 in the GNAC conference, they are ranked #17 in the country. This places them as the second seed in the conference, trailing only Wentworth. With many games still ahead, the Lasers have a solid opportunity to secure the number one spot in the GNAC.
On February 14th, the Lasers traveled to the Muldoon Fitness Center to face Rivier in a conference match. The Lasers dominated, sweeping the Raiders 3-0. Senior Theo Zaharewicz led the charge, finishing with 9 kills, 3 errors on 19 attempts, and a total of 11.5 points. The upperclassmen continued to shine alongside freshman Trystan Maloney, who tallied 30 assists in the match. Both players have been standouts for Lasell this season. Zaharewicz now boasts 209 kills on the year and 44 in conference games, ranking first in the conference, while Maloney leads the GNAC in assists per set with an impressive total of 460 assists.
Following the first three games of the season, the Lasers went on a streak of eight consecutive wins, bringing their record to 10-1. Their two subsequent losses came on February 8, against Misericordia and #3-ranked Vassar. On February 20, they faced #10-ranked Wentworth, who secured a sweep. However, Lasell kept the match competitive in the first two sets of the dual.
Despite the occasional setbacks, the Lasers have maintained a strong and consistent season. They are determined to secure wins against high-ranked opponents. Freshman Benjamin Walinjom, who has made significant contributions to the team, shared his thoughts on the season: "It’s been going well, but we still have areas to improve, especially in terms of grit and discipline. We need to keep fighting through momentum swings." Walinjom has 78 kills on the season, ranking 4th on the team.
The Lasers are entering the final stretch of their regular season with just 13 games remaining before the GNAC Playoffs, each of these games is critical to their postseason prospects. In particular, their upcoming matchups against Dean, Wentworth, and Regis. They will face all of these schools twice, and they will all be pivotal. These games are largely significant for GNAC seeding and for the success of the Lasers. Lasell's previous success in the GNAC is no secret, having been runners-up for the past two years. The team is hungry for change and determined to break through this year.
With the playoffs still on the horizon, the Lasers are well-positioned for a strong seeding. With veteran Zaharewicz leading the way and the energy provided by freshmen Walinjom and Maloney, the team looks primed for a deep run.
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