Sports

Sports Shorts

MIT Receives USTFCCCA Accolades After Record-Breaking Cross Country Campaign

The MIT men’s and women’s cross country teams were honored by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), as both teams received the USTFCCCA’s All-Academic Team award. In addition, a number of student-athletes received individual accolades.

After finishing an astounding 10th overall in its first appearance at the NCAA National Championship, the women’s cross country team earned the All-Academic Team award with a combined GPA of 3.44. Jennifer A. Doyle ’09, Maria J. Monks ’10 and Jacqueline M. Wentz ’10 were also named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team. Wentz, the 2008 NEWMAC Runner of the Year, led the Engineers at the National Championship, finishing 54th overall, the highest finish by an MIT runner at the event in 10 years.

On the men’s side, MIT garnered All-Academic Team honors with a 3.44 team GPA, after ending the season with an eighth-place finish at the Division III New England Championship. Hemagiri Arumugam ’10, Jeremiah R. “Yermie” Cohen ’09 and Jake J. Ruzevick ’09 were also named to the All-Academic team individually.

—Greg McKeever, DAPER Staff

No. 13 Endicott Defeats Men’s Volleyball

The MIT men’s volleyball team saw its 11-match winning streak come to an end following a 30-22, 30-26, 30-24 loss to nationally-ranked No. 13 Endicott College on Tuesday. Michael Demyttenaere ’10 paced the Engineers with 17 kills, a .536 hitting percentage, four aces, and three blocks. T. Scott Pollom ’09 notched five blocks as Garrett L. Winther ’11 recorded eight kills. Eugene Jang ’09 anchored the defense with six digs while Caine L. Jette ’10 picked up six assists and two blocks in one game. Timothy R. Lee ’11 finished with 22 assists and four digs.

The opening set was a back-and-forth affair as it featured nine ties. With the score knotted at 12, Endicott called a timeout and then picked up back-to-back points following the break. MIT cut its deficit in half (16-15) before the Gulls scored three in a row. The Engineers narrowed the gap to two (22-20), but Endicott notched five straight points to take control of the game.

Endicott raced out to a 17-4 advantage in the second set. The Engineers narrowed the lead to two (23-21) and each side exchanged points until the Gulls posted two in a row to double their margin (29-25). A strike by Demyttenaere extended the set, but a serving miscue ended hopes of a comeback.

In the final set, both squads traded points until midway through the game. With the score knotted at 14, Endicott mounted a 6-1 run. Following its own timeout, MIT registered a 4-2 spurt which narrowed the gap to three (22-19). Both teams alternated scoring, maintaining the small margin before the Gulls secured six of the last nine points to seal the match.

—Mindy Brauer, DAPER Staff