HUNTINGDON, Pa. (April 14, 2007) – Third-seeded Springfield College defeated fourth-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology in five games (30-18, 23-30, 19-30, 30-25, 15-9) in the consolation match of the 2007 Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship on Saturday evening at Memorial Gymnasium in the Kennedy Sports and Recreation Center on the campus of Juniata College. The Ducks wrapped up their season with an overall record of 33-9.
Freshman outside hitter A.J. Nally (Rochester, N.Y.) led the Pride with 15 kills, while also finishing with a team-high 16 digs in the contest. Sophomore opposite hitter Ryan Frederickson (Manahawkin, N.J.) finished with 14 kills to go with seven digs. Junior outside hitter Javier Rosario (San Juan, Puerto Rico) and sophomore middle blocker Andy Sipe chipped in with 11 and 10 kills respectively. Freshman setter Eric Shoemaker (Mount Wolf, Pa.) had 47 assists to lead the Pride offensively in the match. Rosario was also in double figures with 12 digs, while Sipe paced the team with six blocks.
Stevens out-blocked Springfield 18-11 in the match, but were also hurt by 15 serve errors. Senior middle/outside hitter Scott Stoner produced a team-high 16 kills in the match, while he also led all players with 17 digs. Sophomore outside hitter Tomas Bochicchio was second on the team with 14 kills and added four blocks in the match. Senior setter/outside hitter Michael Schulte distributed 46 assists for Stevens and added four blocks. Five different players posted four or more blocks in the match, with Stoner and senior middle hitter Will Foley each finished with six.
Springfield (19-9) rallied back after trailing 2-1 to earn a convincing win in game four. The Pride used a big run midway through the game, as a Frederickson kill sparked a 6-1 run that put the Pride in front 21-16. Stevens trailed by just two at 23-21 following a kill from sophomore middle hitter Andrew Cranford, but Springfield got consecutive kills from Nally to help pull away and force a game five.
An early ace from Rosario and a solo block from Nally gave the Pride an early 6-2 advantage in game five. Stevens pulled within two points at 6-4 after a Springfield attack error, but the Pride pulled back to a six-point edge at 12-6. The Ducks scored their seventh point on a kill by Foley, but Springfield took advantage of two attack errors to jump ahead 14-7. Stevens held off the victory on an attack error by Sipe and a kill by Bochicchio, but Sipe ended the match with his 10th finish of the day.
This concludes competition for the men's volleyball team this season.
