Men's Volleyball Team Earns First-Ever ECAC Invite

BOSTON, Mass. – Under the direction of second-year head coach Rob Mullowney, the Wentworth men's volleyball team has earned its first-ever berth in the ECAC Men's Volleyball Tournament.  The 20-10 Leopards, who set a new single-season program record for wins, are seeded fourth and will battle top-seeded and host Endicott (23-13) at 2:30 p.m., on Saturday, April 9, as a part of the north region championships.

After a 1-4 start to the season, including a pair of losses to nationally ranked foes, the Leopards reeled off six wins in a row and would win 16 of 18 matches, with the only two losses coming to teams also in the ECAC Tournament (Stevenson (south region) and Newbury (north region).  After back-to-back losses to Newbury and 12^th-ranked Emmanuel, Wentworth won three straight matches to set the program's win record before ending the regular season with losses to 10^th-ranked MIT and Endicott.

The Leopards have broken five, single-season program record this season and have been paced by a pair of All-North East Collegiate Volleyball Association New England Division selections in seniors Lowell Jesmer (Rochester, N.Y.) and Derek Portugal (Barrington, R.I.).  Both of these players were second team selections as announced on Friday, April 1.

Wentworth and Endicott have met twice this season with the Gulls taking both matches, 3-0 on January 22, and 3-1 on March 26.  The Gulls lead the all-time series, 19-5, having won the previous 19 matches between the two schools.

The tournament is designed for both semifinals to be played simultaneously at 2:30 p.m.  On the other court, second-seeded Newbury (23-13) will face third-seeded Lasell (22-15).  The two winners will meet in the championship match at 4:30 p.m.

2011 ECAC North Region Volleyball Championship
(April 9, 2011, at Endicott College)

SEMIFINALS
Wentworth (20-10) at Endicott (23-13), 2:30 p.m.; Lasell (22-15) vs Newbury (23-13), 2:30 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP
Two semifinal winners, 4:30 p.m.