UC Santa Cruz Wins Molten Opener

Bill Kauffman April 16, 2010

Carthage Athletics contributed to story

KENOSHA, Wis. (April 16, 2010) - The 2010 Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship got underway Friday evening as top-seeded UC Santa Cruz (15-6) defeated fourth-seeded Nazareth (19-15) 30-25, 30-27, 30-25 in the first semifinal played at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis.

Third-seed Carthage (20-11) takes on second-seeded Springfield College (17-10) at 8 p.m. Friday evening in the other semifinal contest.

Nazareth, playing in its first-ever Molten event, will play the Carthage-Springfield loser in the Saturday consolation match at 5 p.m. CDT, with UC Santa Cruz playing the Carthage-Springfield winner at 8 p.m. in the championship match. UC Santa Cruz is making its fifth appearance in the Molten event, which included a second-place finish in 2006.

UC Santa Cruz broke a 4-4 tie in the first set and never trailed. Nazareth was behind by only a point at 15-14 before the Banana Slugs used an 8-2 run to go up 23-16. UC Santa Cruz went on to win by five, 30-25.

In the second set, the Golden Flyers had leads of 24-21 and 25-24 slip away. UC Santa Cruz tied things up at 25-25 before taking the lead to stay at 26-25 on the strength of a 5-1 scoring run. The Banana Slugs went on to win by three, 30-27.

In the third and final set, Nazareth had an early 10-9 lead and the set was tied at 22-22. The Banana Slugs took the lead at 23-22 and went on to win 30-25.

American Volleyball Coaches Association First-Team All-American Justin Lam led UC Santa Cruz with 17 kills and hit. 464 (17-4-28). Eric Rowell had 11 kills and hit .250 (11-4-28) with three block assists, while AVCA second-team All-American Salvatore La Cavera had 10 kills and hit .444 (10-2-18).

Hans Schroeder topped Nazareth with 10 kills and a .292 attack percentage (10-3-24), while Ellis Walsh had nine kills and hit .400 (9-1-20).

Now in its 14th year, the Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship was formed due to a need for a culminating event for NCAA Division III men’s volleyball. While the NCAA sponsors a national championship for men’s volleyball, programs from all three divisions compete for just four berths in the yearly tournament. In the 40-year history of the NCAA National Collegiate Men’s Volleyball Championship, no Division III program has earned a berth or been selected to participate in the NCAA Men’s Volleyball Championship.

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:
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)