BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore Matt Hohenberger (Chelmsford, Mass.) recorded 16 kills and five aces at the MIT men's volleyball team swept Wentworth, 3-0, in the season-opening match for both teams.
The Engineers took an early 3-0 lead before the Leopards scored three quick points to earn the first of 15 ties in the opening game. A back and forth battle ensued before MIT took a 19-16 lead. However, the hosts would not go away quietly, rallying to tie the score at 19, and, after being down 23-19, battled back to tie the score at 23-all.
Facing match point at 23-24 and 24-25, Wentworth evened the score both times, but an attack error at 26-25 gave MIT a 27-25 win in game one.
Wentworth raced out to an 8-2 lead in the second game only to see the Engineers use an 11-5 spurt and tie the game at 13-all. The game would eventually be tied at 15-all before MIT pulled ahead 22-17. Two quick Leopard points pulled the hosts within three, but the Engineers took a 2-0 lead with a 25-20 win.
After two quick ties to open the third game, MIT scored four straight points to take a 6-2 lead, a lead they would not relinquish. Wentworth pulled within a pair at 8-6, but a 6-1 run by the visitors extended the lead to 14-7, en route to a 25-19 win.
Senior Malcolm Bean (Rochester, N.Y.) added eight kills for the Engineers, while junior Garrett Winther (Broomfield, Colo.) and sophomore Patrick Vatterott (St. Louis, Mo.) each had six kills. Winther also had five digs. Senior Tim Lee (Natick, Mass.) had 33 assists and six digs in the sweep, while junior Jeremy Velazquez (Chelmsford, Mass.) had 10 digs.
Wentworth was led by freshman Ross Burdett (Needham, Mass.), who had 11 kills in his collegiate debut. Senior Derek Portugal (Barrington, R.I.) and freshman Mike Buonincontra (Shelton, Conn.) collected nine kills each, senior Lowell Jesmer (Rochester, N.Y.) added six kills and three blocks, and sophomore Tyler Moriarty (Wilbraham, Mass.) had 33 assists and nine digs for the Leopards.
Both teams are back in action on Thursday night. MIT (1-0) is at Lesley, while Wentworth (0-1) is at Lehman.
