MIT Invitational
at Cambridge, Mass

Bates 3, Trinity 0
Bates 3, Springfield 2
Bates 3, Western Conn. 1
Bates 3, Wesleyan 0
Bates 3, Skidmore 1

Bates (7-2)	15	15	15
Trinity		 8       8	 6

Bates (8-2)	15	 6	12	15	15	
Springfield	13	15	15	13	11

Bates (9-2)	 7	15	15	15
Western Conn.	15	 7	 8	 6

Bates (10-2)	15	15	15
Wesleyan	 6	 9	 9

Bates (11-2)	15	15	 9	15
Skidmore	11	 6	15	 4

VOLLEYBALL CLAIMS MIT INVITATIONAL TITLE

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The Bates College volleyball team (11-2), ranked seventh in New England entering the weekend, picked up their first tournament title under head coach Jen Bowman, winning five straight matches to capture the MIT Invitational.

In pool play, the Bobcats were the class of Pool C, defeating conference rival Trinity in three straight games, cruising to a 10-4 advantage in game one and never looking back. In the second match, the Bobcats claimed the top seed from the pool by defeating Springfield, the No. 4 team in New England, 3-2. After falling behind two games to one, senior setter Kate Hagstrom (Portola, Calif.) ran off five points, including three aces, in game four to give momentum back to the Bobcats that carried into a 15-11 victory in the rally-scored fifth game.

In the championship bracket, the Bobcats downed Western Connecticut, 3-1, in the quarterfinals, bouncing back from a 15-7 loss in game one to outscore the Colonials, 45-21, the rest of the way. Bates took advantage of upsets on the other side of the bracket, as Wesleyan downed Amherst, the No. 2 team in New England, in five games in the opening round. Bates dispatched the Cardinals, their second NESCAC foe of the tournament handily, 15-6, 15-9, 15-9. Skidmore, rated sixth in the New York region, defeated Wellesley, No. 1 in New England, 3-2, in the other semifinal. The Bobcats captured the title match in four games, including a 15-4 triumph to clinch the title.

Junior co-captain Lauren Fennessey (Joplin, Mo.) was named to the All-Tournament team. The Bobcats are next in action Wednesday, Sept. 27, against CBB rival Bowdoin.