Athlone IT joined the list of 2019 Student Sport Ireland winners as the midlanders claimed the SSI Men’s Volleyball League title on Wednesday March 13th in Maynooth University with victory over Dublin City University in the final.

Athlone IT began the day with a fascinating semi-final win over NUI Galway. The first set of the semi-final was a 25-18 win for AIT, but NUI Galway battled all the way in the second set and after both teams squandered several set points the Tribe’s Men took the set 29-27. That set up an exciting tie breaker and in the third set Athlone IT got over the line 15-12.

The second semi-final saw favorites University College Dublin come up against Dublin City University. The script was followed in the first set as UCD won quickly on a 25-9 score line, however it was quickly torn to shreds as DCU surged forward in the second set for a 25-15 win. IN the third set with the full momentum behind them DCU put the foot down and took the honours 15-11.

Athlone IT would prove a step too far in the final for DCU as the AIT men pulled out a vast array of winning shots, serves and returns and were crowned champions with a 25-19, 25-20 victory.

Athlone IT – Guiseppe Schiavello, Giacono Bima, Aidan McDonnell, Anthony Finnerty, David Zanini, Pablo Barbero, Vincenzo Abruzzese, Francesco Cartasegna, Michelle Genito.

Dublin City University – Rohith Gunaseeian, Gregory Weldon, Zubin Mathew, Umang Parekh, Laers Weigang, Keith McCabe, Philip Daly, David Zeng, Vincent Riamon, Natsumi Hatana