Matt Akromis '87

THE ASPEN TIMES ARTICLE: "Upset special at Motherlode"

Excerpt from 36th Annual Mother Loade Classic

     At the Main Championship sand courts, the competition was the most balanced it has been in years as the fans were treated to tight matches and inspired play in every division, from Women’s Masters all the way up to the Men’s and Women’s Open play. Although teams from the beach volleyball “hotbed” of California captured most of the Titles, there was one notable exception: In the Men’s Masters (37-over) division, which was a veritable listing of who’s who in the past volleyball world, Jeff Pheffer of Kansas City, Missouri and his partner Matt Akromis of Denver, Colorado shocked everyone by roaring through the 32 team field behind the phenomenal leaping ability of Akromis and the outstanding blocking of Pheffer to defeat Steve Salmons/Kenny Lentin of San Diego, California in the finals.

Matt Akromis of Denver, left, spikes one past Kenny Lentin of San Diego, Calif., during the MotherLode men’s masters championship match Saturday afternoon at Koch Lumber Park. Akromis and teammate Jeff Pheffer of Kansas City, Miss., defeated Lentin and teammate Steve Salmons, 21-19, 22-20. Paul Conrad/The Aspen Times