Release courtesy of the Wentworth Athletic Communications Department.
BOSTON – In a five-set thriller in Tansey Gym Saturday night, the third-ranked Wentworth Institute of Technology men's volleyball team fell in a historic back-and-forth battle with the No. 8-ranked Vassar Brewers, ending their run in the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Tournament.
With the loss, Wentworth caps their most successful season in program history with a 31-2 record while Vassar moves to the Final Four with a 25-7 mark.
Senior Jacob Waga left it all out on the court, finishing a career-high 25 kills while junior Josh Milke tied his career-high in assists with 57.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Wentworth set out to a 7-4 lead in the opening set with a finish by Waga before a kill by senior Jacob LaBouliere marked a 13-7 score. Another Waga kill continued the lead to 17-13 before the Brewers later clawed back to a 19-18 deficit. Holding a 24-21 lead with help of a kill by Waga, Vassar rattled off three service aces en route to rallying for a 27-25 set win.
- A kill by sophomore Nicolai Bell helped the Leopards out to an 8-5 lead before kills by Waga and graduate student Brandon Dunz continued the lead to 15-9. Vassar battled back, taking a 20-19 lead, before a Dunz killed tied the set at 20-all. Wentworth won the back-and-forth endgame, taking a 28-26 set with help on kills from Waga and LaBouliere.
- The two teams swapped scores all the way through the third set, with the Leopards taking a 15-14 edge on a Dunz kill. After a Bell finish tied the set at 19 aside, Vassar capitalized with six of the next seven points to grab a 25-20 set win.
- A service ace and kill by LaBouliere helped Wentworth out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth set before a kill by Waga marked a 10-5 lead. A kill by LaBouliere carried the lead to 16-13 before two kills apiece for Waga and Bell helped the Leopards surge to a 25-19 set win, forcing a pivotal fifth set.
- After falling behind early, a service ace by junior Ryan Roller gave Wentworth an 8-5 lead in the fifth before two kills and a service ace by LaBouliere marked a 12-9 lead. Vassar fought back, holding a one-point lead that would be match by Wentworth to a 16-16 score. However, one final service ace clinched the Brewers an 18-16 set win.
2024 NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Championship Schedule
First Round – Friday, April 19
(Hosted by Wentworth – Boston, Mass.)
No. 8 Vassar def. No. 11 Nichols, 3-1 | BOX
No. 3 Wentworth def. Lancaster Bible, 3-0 | BOX
Second Round – Saturday, April 20
(Hosted by Wentworth – Boston, Mass.)
No. 8 Vassar def. No. 3 Wentworth, 3-2 | BOX
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The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 16 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 22 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
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