Volume 116 >> Issue 58 : Tuesday, November 12, 1996

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Volleyball Team Takes Trophy in Tourney

The 1996-97 season began on a positive note for the Intercollegiate Volleyball Club Saturday at Boston University's annual fall tournament. The club took home the winner's trophy for the first time in three years by clobbering a field of nine regional collegiate teams.

With several players absent - including premier setter Koji Asari G and injured first-string outside hitter Rad Roberts G - IVC's outlook on a victory was questionable. However, backup setter Tony Lee G stepped in and performed beyond expectations.

MIT's day started with pool play against divisional opponent Boston College. The Eagles were unable to keep up with an explosive Engineer offense led by star outside Tom Klemas G in his first match with the club after a one year hiatus.

After taking two games from BC with MIT's most experienced lineup, some new players saw playing time against Tufts University. After dropping the first game in the match, the club let Lee rest while right side attacker Parry J.R. Husbands G ran the offense for a successful game two.

The third pool play opponent for the IVC was Wentworth Institute of Technology. The match with WPI was marked by key performances from Lee and outside Mitch Price G in his first team tournament. Maurice Chu G and Gene Van Buren G also chipped in with some good back row defense.

Coming out of their pool ranked first, the club faced Eastern Nazarene College after a long delay in the tournament. Nevertheless, ENC was never let into the match. Strong middle defense from John Modzelewski '98, Jim Fleming G, and Steve Seel G shut down ENC's offense as IVC steamrolled into the finals.

The finals brought the club against Northeastern's Huskies. Klemas brought strong offense, but Husbands and Lee faced the difficult task of defending the right side of the court against Northeastern's outside attack. The game was close but in the end went 15­13 to MIT.

The first half of game two showcased Husbands serving as the club ran to a quick 9­0 lead. After reaching 11­1, the tide turned and Northeastern cut the lead to 11­9. But persistent attacks from Klemas, a key back row strike from Husbands, and a championship winning block from Modzelewski brought home the 15­11 victory.