Carthage Downs Baruch in Molten Men’s Consolation

Bill Kauffman April 16, 2011

Photo: Copyrighted by USAV/AVCA

Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship logo

Bill Kauffman
Associate Director, Communications
Phone: 719-228-6800
E-Mail: bill.kauffman@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 16, 2011) – Carthage College (23-11) defeated Baruch College (34-16) 25-19, 25-22, 25-17 Saturday evening in the Molten Division III Men’s Invitational Volleyball Championship consolation match being held on the campus of Nazareth College in Rochester, N.Y.

Carthage has finished third in the last two Molten events, while Baruch was playing in the event for the first time. Later this evening host Nazareth College will try to earn its first Molten title while attempting to stop top-seed and defending champion Springfield College from winning its record seventh Molten event, which is in its 15th and final running. Earlier this year the NCAA approved a Division III men’s championship that will begin in 2012.

Randy Hansen led Carthage with a team-high 15 points via 14 kills on 21 attacks and an ace. Tim Walker added 12 kills on 16 errorless swings for a .750 hitting efficiency to go with a block assist. Tom O’Connell provided nine kills, two aces and three blocks. Connor Wexter set Carthage with 43 assists leading to a .444 team hitting efficiency.

Baruch was led by Pablo Oliveira’s 14 kills, three blocks and five digs. Vincent Cruz added five kills, two blocks and an ace, while Nick Smith and Steven Coniglio each chipped in four kills.

Carthage built an early 7-3 lead in the opening set and scored four of the final five points of the set for a 25-19 victory. The second set had six lead changes and eight ties before Carthage assumed a 20-16 advantage with four unanswered points. However, Baruch fought back to within one at 20-19 before Carthage scored three of the final four points for a 25-22 victory. In the third set, Baruch claimed a 14-12 lead after eight early lead changes and 11 ties. However, Carthage scored nine consecutive points to assume a 24-16 lead under the service of Tom O’Connell, who had two aces during the spurt.

Molten U.S.A., Inc. is the “Official Volleyball of the Division III Men’s Invitational Volleyball Championship.” Sports Imports is the “Official Net System Supplier of the Division III Men’s Invitational Volleyball Championship.” Mizuno USA is the “Official Apparel & Shoe Sponsor of the Division III Men’s Invitational Volleyball Championship.”

Tournament History with Final Placing:
2011: 1. Springfield/Nazareth; 2. Springfield/Nazareth; 3. Carthage; 4. Baruch (hosted by Nazareth)
2010: 1. Springfield; 2. UC Santa Cruz; 3. Carthage; 4. Nazareth (hosted by Carthage)
2009: 1. Juniata; 2. Stevens; 3. UC Santa Cruz; 4. Ramapo (hosted by Ramapo)
2008: 1. Springfield; 2. Vassar; 3. UC Santa Cruz; 4. Juniata (hosted by Springfield)
2007: 1. Juniata; 2. Carthage; 3. Springfield; 4. Stevens (hosted by Juniata)
2006: 1. Juniata; 2. UC Santa Cruz; 3. Stevens; 4. Rivier (hosted by Stevens)
2005: 1. Juniata; 2. Carthage; 3. Stevens; 4. Medaille (hosted by Stevens)
2004: 1. Juniata; 2. Medaille; 3. UC Santa Cruz; 4. Eastern Mennonite (hosted by Eastern Mennonite)
2003: 1. Springfield; 2. Juniata; 3. La Verne; 4. Stevens (hosted by Juniata)
2002: 1. Springfield; 2. La Verne; 3. NYU; 4. Lehman (hosted by NYU)
2001: 1. Springfield; 2. D’Youville; 3. Clarke; 4. Vassar (hosted by Springfield)
2000: 1. UC San Diego; 2. NYU; 3. D’Youville; 4. Stevens (hosted by Stevens)
1999: 1. La Verne; 2. D’Youville; 3. Clarke; 4. Juniata (hosted by Clarke)
1998: 1. Juniata; 2. La Verne; 3. Springfield; 4. Eastern Mennonite (hosted by Springfield)
1997: 1. Springfield; 2. NJIT; 3. Juniata; 4. UC San Diego (hosted by Juniata)