Men's Volleyball Wins Inaugural NECC Championship
MEN'S VOLLEYBALL WINS
INAUGURAL NECC TOURNAMENT TITLE
No. 2 Elms College Cruises Past No. 1 Newbury,
3-1
BROOKLINE, MA, March 28, 2009 - Sophomore outside hitter Alberto Bravo (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) hammered down a match-high 25 kills, and freshman outside hitter Sequiel Sanchez Velez (San Sebastian, Puerto Rico) recorded 12 kills en route to Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors as second-seeded Elms College earned a thrilling 3-1 (27-30, 30-21, 30-22, 30-27) win over top-seeded Newbury College in the championship match of the inaugural New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Men's Volleyball Tournament on Saturday afternoon at Pappas Gymnasium.
The Blazers (18-12), who have won nine of their last 10, advanced to the championship final following a 3-0 (30-17, 30-20, 30-16) sweep over fourth-seeded Daniel Webster (5-13) in the semifinals earlier in the day.
In the title match, Bravo was nearly unstoppable, as he connected
for 21 kills on 27 swings through the first three sets as the
Blazers hit a sizzling .455 in the second set and .556 in the third
to grab a 2-1 lead through three sets.
Sanchez Velez added a double-double in the championship match, as he finished with a match-high 10 digs.
Freshman middle hitter Harry Sebastian (San Juan, Puerto Rico) was outstanding at the net, as he added 13 kills and a match-high nine total blocks for the Blazers, who outblocked the host Nighthawks 12-4.
Junior Ivan Andujar (Carolina, Puerto Rico) and freshman Jesus Echevarria (San Juan, Puerto Rico) combined for 63 assists in the final, as the Blazers hit .405 (66-17-121) and committed just one receiving error (.988 reception percentage) in a sensational defensive effort.
In Elms College's semifinal win over Daniel Webster, sophomore outside hitter Carlos DeLeon-Gomez (Carolina, Puerto Rico) as solid, as he knocked down 10 kills, hit .353 and added a match-high eight digs.
The Blazers host Johnson & Wales University in their regular season finale on Tuesday, March 31. Match time is 7:00 p.m.