#1 Men’s Volleyball Captures Fenway Volleyball Classic, Cruising Past Baruch and Nichols

BOSTON, Mass. – Still unbeaten, the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's volleyball team (6-0) took home the top honors at the Fenway Volleyball Classic, sweeping both Baruch (1-6) and Nichols (6-1) in straight sets Sunday afternoon. With the wins, the Leopards garner an unblemished 6-0 record heading into conference play Thursday.

Junior setter Josh Milke (Eastampton, N.J.) was named the tournament's most valuable player, while junior outside hitter Ryan Roller (West Hartford, Conn.) and sophomore libero Mason Andrade (North Kingstown, R.I.) claimed spots on the all-tournament team.

MATCH ONE: WENTWORTH 3, BARUCH 0

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Behind 3-2 in the first set, a kill and two service aces by senior Tyler Jack (San Jose, Calif.) helped Wentworth to a 7-4 lead before a kill by Roller marked an 8-5 lead. After the Bearcats battled back, a kill by Roller marked an 11-10 edge before two kills by sophomore Gabe Tucker (East Greenbush, N.Y.) later marked a 13-11 score. Three kills by Jack paced Wentworth to a 19-13 lead before two more by the senior along with others by Roller and Jack clinched a 25-22 set win.
• Two kills apiece by Tucker and sophomore Nicolai Bell (Moraga, Calif.) pushed Wentworth to a 6-1 lead in the second set before a kill by Jack later marked a 10-4 advantage. A Roller kill marked a 14-6 set before errors plagued the Bearcats for most of the rest of the way, giving Wentworth a 25-15 set win.
• The two teams traded scores to begin the third set, with Baruch taking an 11-9 lead before a Roller kill cut the deficit to 11-10. Two kills by Jack and another by Bell later gave the Leopards a 16-14 advantage before Baruch stormed back to take a 19-16 lead. Wentworth battled back to tie at 20-all before Baruch took a 23-21 lead. Behind 25-24 later, a Bell kill tied things at 25-25, and after the Bearcats took a 26-25 lead, a kill by Jack and service ace by Jacob Waga (East Northport, N.Y.) helped Wentworth to a tight 28-26 set win.

SERIES NOTES:

• Winners of three straight, Wentworth owns the all-time series, 7-5.

MATCH TWO: WENTWORTH 3, NICHOLS 0

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The two teams traded scores to open the first set, working the score to 5-5, before the Leopards rattled off six straight points, featuring a service ace by Jack and kill by senior Jacob LaBouliere (Pipersville, Pa.), to take an 11-5 lead. Nichols closed the deficit to 11-7 before the Leopards went on another run, taking a 19-10 advantage thanks to two kills by Waga, before two kills by LaBouliere and another by graduate student Brandon Dunz (Lake View, N.Y.) later gave the Leopards a 25-15 set win.
• The Bison scored the opening three scores of the second set before Wentworth tied the score at three aside. The two teams traded points until a Waga kill gave Wentworth a 12-10 advantage. Kills by Waga and freshman Conner Foxwell (Harrisburg, Pa.) helped the Leopards stretch their lead to 18-13 before kills by LaBouliere and Dunz pushed the hosts to a 25-19 set win.
• The two teams traded scores to a 4-4 tie to open the third set before the Bison later took a 12-6 lead. Wentworth later cut the deficit to 14-9 on a LaBouliere kill before the Bison continued their lead to 17-11. Multiple kills by LaBouliere helped Wentworth later cut their deficit to 19-18 before the Leopards were still down later in the set, this time at 23-21. Wentworth rattled off three straight points, including a kill by LaBouliere and service ace by Jack, before another kill by LaBouliere guided Wentworth to a 26-24 set win.

SERIES NOTES:

• The Leopards are a perfect 4-0 versus the Bison all-time.

NEXT UP:

• The Leopards host Dean in their conference opener on Thursday.

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