NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – For the first time in program history, the MIT men's volleyball team captured the United Volleyball Conference Championship as the No. 19 nationally ranked Engineers pulled out a thrilling 3-1 upset win over top seed and No. 7 nationally ranked New Paltz at the Hawk Center on Sunday afternoon. The match featured a total of 40 ties and 22 lead changes.
MIT earned the conference's automatic qualifier and will be making the program's second NCAA appearance and first since 2014.
First-year Nate Toth was named the tournament MVP while Braeden Baker and Colin Zimmerman were also named to the All-Tournament Team.
THE BASICS:
- Scores: MIT 3, New Paltz 1(26-24, 19-25, 27-25)
- Records: No. 19 MIT (22-7 Overall); No. 7 New Paltz (22-7 Overall)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Set 1: Henry Garewal gave MIT a 19-14 lead, but the Hawks used a 4-0 run to pull top within one. Maddox Brandenburg stopped the NP run, but the Hawks took the lead off a block from Geoff Ndoria to go up 22-21. The teams continued to stay close before an ace from Matthew Louis and a kill from Nate Toth gave the Engineers set one, 26-24.
- Set 2: A Toth kill and Louis ace tied the match at eight, but New Paltz regained the lead and did not relinquish it, as Michael Spiegel gave the host set point with a kill.
- Set 3: Trailing 16-13, New Paltz went on a 4-0 run with an ace from Matt Teplansky giving them a 17-16 lead. MIT quickly jumped back in the lead as Braeden Baker recorded two kills and a block to make it a 19-17 MIT lead. Daniel Shanley gave New Paltz the lead back at 22-21 and yet again the two squads would go back-and-forth before three-straight points for the Engineers gave them the set, 27-25.
- Set 4: Back-to-back kills from Baker and Toth gave MIT a 12-9 lead. An MIT error got New Paltz to within one at 16-15 and three-straight kills from Ndoria gave the Hawks a 18-17 advantage. Baker then scored three of the next four points to put the Engineers back up one at 21-20. Nikko Tenedorio gave New Paltz set point, but a kill from Toth and an error made it 24 all. Tenedorio gave NP the lead, but MIT scored three straight with Baker's 14th kill of the day giving MIT the 27-25 win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Toth had a match-high 18 kills and added seven digs and three aces.
- Zimmerman dished out 49 assists and nine digs. Garewal led the way with 14 digs.
- Tenedorio led New Paltz with 12 kills and three aces.
UP NEXT:
- The Engineers will find out their opponent and match location when the brackets are revealed on the NCAA Selection show which airs, tomorrow, Monday April 13 at 10:00 AM on NCAA.com.
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