Gulls win third straight, 3-1 over MIT
Jan. 27, 2009
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Endicott College men's volleyball team defeated MIT, 30-19, 30-15, 26-30, 30-28, in a North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) New England Division match on Tuesday night. The loss lowered the Engineers' ledger to 2-5 on the year and 1-1 in conference play while the Gulls improved to 4-3 overall and 3-0 in NECVA action.
Endicott established a 7-3 lead in the opening game and maintained its slight edge until a kill by MIT's Mike Demyttenaere and an ace from Jeremy Velazaquez evened the score at 12. The Gulls captured the next two points, but the Engineers recorded a 5-2 spurt to go up 17-16, prompting a timeout by the visitors. Coming out of the break, a strike by A.J. Witkofsky (Scotia, N.Y.) sparked an 11-0 run that put the game out of reach for the Cardinal and Gray.
In the second stanza, MIT was ahead 4-2 before Endicott mounted a 16-5 run to secure the lead. Following their own timeout, a solo block by Eric Reuland brought the Engineers within eight (18-10). The effort would not be enough to stop the Gulls' momentum as they recorded 12 of the final 18 points to close out the frame.
The Cardinal and Gray sustained a small cushion for a majority of the third game, with its largest advantage coming at 18-13. Endicott responded with an 8-1 run to go ahead (21-19) for the first time since the opening point. MIT regained the lead courtesy of a 9-3 spurt that featured a pivotal block by Reuland and Scott Pollom. Facing a four-point deficit (28-24), the Gulls called a timeout and won the ensuing point on a strike by Witkofsky. Hopes of a late rally were thwarted as each side traded points to wrap up the game.
The fourth frame was closely played as it featured six ties and a trio of lead changes until an 8-2 run gave Endicott a 23-18 advantage. The Engineers tallied the next six points, going ahead 24-23 on a block by Pollom and Garrett Winther. The Gulls regained the lead on a hit by Jeremy Schlosser (Emmaus, Pa.) and a block from James Sliva (Monroe, Conn.) and Brent Feldman (West Palm Beach, Fla.). Both sides exchanged points before kills by Witkofsky and John Emery (Westford, Mass.) sealed the match for Endicott.
Pollom recorded 11 kills, a .474 hitting percentage and six blocks for the Cardinal and Gray. Demyttenaere led the way with 15 kills to go along with a .407 hitting performance. Velazquez notched seven digs and two aces as Tim Lee collected five digs.
Witkofsky led the way with 22 kills and nine blocks while Emery added 12 kills. Schlosser dished out 61 assists as Dan Coleman (Millis, Mass.) finished with a match-high nine digs.
Both squads will continue NECVA New England Division action at home on Thursday, Jan. 29. MIT will host Wentworth Institute of Technology while Endicott will take on Lesley University.