Adult Nationals 2005 - Denver Colorado
May 28-June 4th

Molten 65's (Rustys)

Molten wins the 2005 USAV Open National Championships in the Men’s 65+ division.

 Molten dominated play in this year’s 65+, winning 8 straight matches and losing once in 17 games. The average score in the 16 games they won was 25-14.

On the first day, play started with three pools of three teams each. Molten defeated the home team Mile Hi Club from Denver (25-11, 25-16), and BodyWise from California (25-15, 25-16).

On the second day, the winners from the three pools played in a new pool. A team from Minnesota named Team Sota (with Ken Bleasdell and Norm MacLeod of Rustys and the Columbia Empire Region), although seeded quite low, had won their pool. They were considered Molten’s toughest competition. Molten defeated Team Sota 25-13, 25-20), and followed with a (25-19, 25-18) victory over a tough MAC team (Mid-Atlantic Conference, not Multnomah Athletic Club.)

Day three saw the beginning of bracket play. Molten continued undefeated, beating Palmetto from South Carolina (25-12, 25-10), and PenDelMar (from Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland) by scores of (25-7, 25-17).

With only two teams left in the winner’s bracket, Molten was assured of a medal. Molten lost their only game, but defeated Team Sota in a tough winner’s bracket finals (16-25, 25-15, 15-6). The overall finals were a bit of a surprise. BodyWise, who had lost to Molten on the first day, fought through the losers bracket to make it to the finals. Molten ended their surprising climb, winning (25-14, 25-18) and claiming the championship.

The dominance of Molten was so complete the team had 4 members as All-American selections.