Volleyball starts season strong
Engineers defeat top-ranked teams, increase record to 4-1
The No. 9 ranked MIT Men’s Volleyball team has started the season with a bang, beating the reigning national champions and currently ranked No. 1 Nazareth College Golden Flyers on their own court.
The Engineers opened the season last week with a 3-1 win over cross town rival Wentworth Institute of Technology. Kenneth M. Siebert ’14 and David R. Thomas ’12 led the way with 13 and 11 kills respectively, while Jeremy J. Velazquez ’12 anchored the defense with nine digs.
The team then traveled to Rochester, N.Y. over the weekend to participate in the Nazareth College Invitational Tournament, which featured five nationally ranked teams. MIT first had a battle with Elmira College and found themselves down two games to zero before mounting a tremendous comeback, winning the fourth set 31-29 and the fifth set 16-14 to win the match 3-2. Later that day, D’Youville College would be MIT’s next victim, falling to the Engineers in straight sets 3-0. The second day of the tournament would only be tougher with MIT having to face No. 5 Juniata College in a hard-fought battle that would see MIT fall just short losing 3-1. With no rest, and slightly disheartened after their loss, the Engineers would bounce back in a big way taking down No. 1 ranked Nazareth College 3-1. Junior Matt P. Hohenberger was key in the victory providing 14 kills, while Thomas added 10 of his own including the match winner. Paul M. Syta ’14 and Evan P. Wang ’14 shared setting duties in the effort with Syta also blasting four service aces. Hohenberger and Velazquez also each made the All-Tournament Team.
MIT will take on Harvard University this Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Rockwell Cage.