March 29, 2008
CHICOPEE, Mass. - Endicott College used a balanced offense and a solid blocking defense to post a 3-0 (32-30, 30-20, 30-14) win over Elms College in a pivotal North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) New England Division match on Saturday evening at the Maguire Center.
With the win, Endicott improved to 17-14 overall and finished in fourth place over Elms College in the final regular season New England Division standings at 8-3. The Blazers (19-9, 8-3 NECVA New England) saw their seven-match win-streak snapped. Endicott has done enough to earn a berth into next weekend's NECVA Tournament at Ramapo College. Elms College will await an at-large bid.
Endicott needed extra points in the first game, but held on despite Alberto Bravo's (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) 11 kills on 15 swings (.667 hitting percentage). In game two, Endicott sophomore middle blocker A.J. Witkofsky (Scotia, N.Y.) erupted for six of his team-high 17 kills, and also added five digs and a pair of blocks. In game three, Witkofsky added three more kills and four blocks, as the Gulls hit a sizzling .647 (12-1-17) in the final game to seal the victory.
Freshman middle hitter Zeke Kubisch (Bethlehem, N.Y.) knocked down 11 kills, sophomore middle blocker James Sliva (Monroe, Conn.) added 10 kills and sophomore setter Ben Foster (Penfield, N.Y.) handed out 43 assists for the Gulls, who outblocked the Blazers 16-1.
Endicott will close out its regular season on Monday evening as the Gulls host the University of New Haven on Senior Night. Match time is slated for 7:00 p.m. in Beverly, Mass.
