FRANKLIN, Mass. – In a thrilling five-set match, the Dean College men's volleyball team defeated Emerson College by a final score of 3-2. With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 3-3 on the season, while the Lions drop to 2-3.
 
Notables:
-This is the first time in program history that the men's volleyball team has defeated Emerson College.

How it Happened:
-The first set of the evening was close until the final point. Emerson grabbed the first three points of the match, followed by three consecutive kills by Dean. Brandon Mimande (East Providence, R.I.) and Arthur Felicio (Saugus, Brazil) snagged the opening two kills. Felicio also had a service ace.
-Emerson jumped out to a 12-7 lead halfway through the first set. However, the lead didn't last for long. Mimande and Felicio continued their strong efforts, eventually cutting the lead to just one point.
-The Lions continued to hold a narrow lead through the entirety of the first set. Dean kept close, though, with kills from Travis Johnson (Taunton, Mass.) and Noah Allan (Windham, N.H.). With the score 22-20, the Bulldogs called a timeout.
-The tide turned following the Dean timeout. In an impressive set of events, the Bulldogs would score five of the next six points to take the first set, 25-23.
-Emerson retaliated over the course of the next two sets. They were victorious in the second set by the same score, 25-23. Dean had it close until the final point, but the Lions secured the set on a kill from Riley Goldman.
-The Lions also ran away with set three by a final score of 25-15. With back-to-back wins, they were knocking on the doorstep of victory.
-The Bulldogs responded to the call with poise. They dominated the fourth set and won with a final score of 25-15. The trio of Johnson, Mimande, and Allan paved the way on offense with multiple kills each. With both sides now holding two sets each, the match would be decided in the fifth set.
-Emerson grabbed the first two points in the final set, but Dean quickly responded with a kill from Antonio Varela (East Providence, R.I.). Varela would play a key factor in the final moments, securing several kills for the win.
-The Bulldogs secured the win on a service error and took the match by a final score of 3-2.  
 
Standouts:
-Mimande (11 Kills, 34 Total Attempts, 10 DIGs)
-Allan (8 Kills, 15 Total Attempts, 4 DIGs, Assist, Service Ace, Solo Block)
-Felicio (7 Kills, 38 Total Attempts, 9 DIGs, 2 Assists, 2 Service Aces)
-Johnson (7 Kills, 24 Total Attempts, 9 DIGs, 6 Solo Blocks)
 
Next Up:
-Tuesday, February 10^th, 7:00PM at Wheaton College (Mass.)

For Media Inquiries:
Brett Chaves
Sports Information Director, Dean College Athletics
(508) 541-1826
BChaves@dean.edu