Sports

Men’s volleyball team stays undefeated en route to title

MIT claims second straight championship title at the Johnson & Wales University Invitational

The MIT men’s volleyball team went 4-0 en route to its second straight championship title at the Johnson & Wales University Invitational held this past weekend. The No. 5 Engineers (20-4) defeated York College (N.Y.) (25-0, 25-22, 25-11), Vassar College (25-21, 25-27, 20-25, 25-19, 15-5), Wentworth Institute of Technology (25-20, 25-19, 25-23), and the host Wildcats (25-22, 25-20, 25-14) for the crown. Paul M. Syta ’14 was named the tournament Most Outstanding Player while Brendan S. Chang ’16 represented the Cardinal and Gray on the All-Tournament Team.

Kenneth M. Siebert ’14 led the way with nine kills and a .571 hitting performance as Martin J. Krasuski ’17 connected on five of his six hitting attempts versus York. Aaron D. Zalewski ’17 was 3-of-4 in his attacking effort while Andrew A. Busse ’15 posted four kills and two blocks. Syta tallied seven assists, four kills, three digs, and two blocks as Evan P. Wang ’14 dished out 14 assists. Chang rounded out the squad with 11 digs.

In the five-set come-from-behind victory over Vassar, Krasuski compiled 10 kills, nine digs, two aces, and two blocks. Alexander C. Klein ’15 paced MIT with 14 kills and added two blocks as Busse generated 12 kills, a 0.562 hitting percentage, and three blocks. Zalewski had six kills and six blocks, while Siebert chipped in five kills, two aces, and two blocks. Syta totaled 32 assists, nine digs, and two blocks as Wang distributed 12 assists. For the second time on Friday, Chang was the match leader in digs as he collected 12.

Klein powered the front row with 13 kills and five blocks, while Siebert totaled 12 kills and five digs against Wentworth. Krasuski posted six kills and two blocks as Syta compiled 20 assists, four kills, and four digs. Chang amassed 15 digs while Jordan W. Lucier ’17 racked up eight of his own. Wang bolstered the Engineers’ offense by producing eight assists.

In the finale with Johnson & Wales, Siebert registered 15 kills, a 0.519 hitting performance, and four digs as Klein had 12 kills, a 0.409 hitting percentage, and two blocks. Zalewski notched six blocks and two aces, while Busse earned a pair of blocks. Syta recorded 25 assists and three blocks as Chang gathered 13 digs.

MIT returns to action on Saturday, March 22 when it visits No. 10 Stevens Institute of Technology for its final United Volleyball Conference match of the season.