Springfield Wins Molten Division III Men's Title

KENOSHA, Wis. (April 17, 2010) – Behind a career performance from tournament MVP Alberto Bravo, Springfield College (19-10) claimed its sixth Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship title on Saturday night after defeating UC Santa Cruz (15-7) at Carthage College.

After dropping the first set, 30-23, Springfield won the final three sets 32-30, 30-26, 30-22 at Tarble Arena .

Bravo led all scorers with 29 points on a match-high 24 kills on 0.25 hitting efficiency (24-9-60), four block assists and one ace. His teammate A.J. Nally – the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Player of the Year – added 24 points on 20 kills, three blocks and one ace. Cal Palumbo finished with 17 points on 11 kills and six blocks. Greg Falcone had 14 points on eight kills (8-2-16) and six blocks (one solo).

UC Santa Cruz was paced by Austin Einhorn who had 24 points on 13 kills (13-2-23), a match-high 10 blocks (four solo) and one ace. Rick Schroeder tallied 16 points on 11 kills (11-3-21), three blocks (two solo) and two aces. Justin Lam added 15 points on 12 kills (12-11-35), on block assist and two aces.

In the third-place match, host Carthage (21-12) defeated Nazareth (19-16), 30-25, 30-21, 30-26

Along with Bravo, Springfield's Nally and Eric Shoemaker were named to the all-tournament team, along with Sal La Cavera III and Austin Einhorn from UC Santa Cruz, Randy Hansen from Carthage and Hans Schroeder from Nazareth.

The Springfield Pride started the match businesslike as it opened up a 5-2 lead after a Bravo kill. Springfield increased its lead to 13-8 after Nally and Palumbo combined for a double block, forcing a Santa Cruz timeout. Nally pounded out a kill to give SC a 14-8 edge, but Santa Cruz answered with a 9-0 run to take a 17-14 lead.

Einhorn changed the momentum of the match as he posted a pair of double blocks in the spurt to highlight the run. The Banana Slugs continued to dictate the flow of the opening set, despite Bravo’s best attempts as he recorded eight kills in the stanza. Schroeder and Eric Rowell closed out with a double block on Bravo to give Santa Cruz a 30-23 win.

A back-and-forth second set saw Springfield grab an early 9-8 lead after Eric Shoemaker recorded a kill. However, using tough serving and timely blocking, the Banana Slugs poured on a 6-2 run capped off by a double block from Brad Sullivan and Einhorn to snag a 14-11 lead. Springfield rallied to tie the game at 21-all after a Palumbo kill, only to have a La Cavera  kill and Bravo error provide Santa Cruz with a two-point cushion at 23-21 and force Springfield head coach Charlie Sullivan to call a timeout.

With its back against the wall trailing 29-27, UCSC recorded a service error, only to have Nally manufacture a kill to even the set at 29. A Schroeder kill gave the Banana Slugs set point at 30-29, only to have Nally once again come through in the clutch to even the set at 30. Nally used the block to get a kill to give Springfield set point, and after Brad Seislove came in to serve, Santa Cruz committed an attack error to even the match at a set apiece.

After having a quiet match through the first two games, Springfield’s Falcone turned it on in the third to make his presence felt. With the score tied at 14-all, SC took advantage of a pair of Santa Cruz attack errors and used a Palumbo kill to gain a 17-14 lead. Nally put home another kill to give Springfield a 21-16 advantage, forcing yet another Santa Cruz timeout. A La Cavera kill brought USCU within two at 24-22, only to have Falcone hit his stride down the stretch with a trio important kills to give SC a 30-26 win, and a 2-1 set advantage.

Springfield’s defense set the tone early in the fourth as Nally and Palumbo combined for a double block to give the Pride an early 6-3 lead. Palumbo combined with Shoemaker for another block to hand SC a 10-5 lead, forcing Santa Cruz into a timeout. From there, Springfield continued to roll as a Nally kill gave Springfield a 10-point cushion at 22-12, and the AVCA National Player of the Year capped off a match with a cross court kill to complete the fourth set, 30-22.

For more information on the Molten Division III Men's Invitational Championship, click here for Carthage's event page.

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.”

Springfield College contributed to this release

Tournament History with Final Placing:
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)

Tags: college volleyball, men, men volleyball ncaa, Molten Division III Men's Invitational Volleyball Championship