BEVERLY, Mass. – Needing a victory over Daniel Webster to sweep the season series and claim the top seed in the upcoming NECC Tournament, the Endicott men's volleyball team won in straight sets 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-15) and improved to 18-8 overall and 10-0 in conference play.
Endicott got 10 kills on a .562 hitting percentage from freshman outside John Osborne (Freehold, N.J.) and a pair of standout efforts from middle blockers Alex Wasik (Milford, Mass.) and Mike Coniglione (Glenville, N.Y.) who combined for another 10 kills with zero errors and five block assists. Junior setter Carter Roche (Clifton Park, N.Y.) totaled 27 assists.
The Gulls also took time before the match to honor their lone senior, right side hitter Matt Devendorf (Glastonbury, Conn.), who added five kills to an overall Endicott offensive output that resulted in a .391 team hitting percentage. By season's end, Devendorf will finish his career in the top-10 in several statistical categories including matches played, sets played, kills, attacks, total blocks, and block assists.
Daniel Webster (13-11, 8-2 NECC) were led by a strong defensive effort from freshman Ryan Howdeshell (Fairbanks, Alaska) who had a match-high nine digs while contributing offensively with four kills and two service aces. The Eagles saw outside hitters Joel Hendrix (Kane'ohe, Hawaii) and Joe Walz (East Longmeadow, Mass.) total nine and eight kills, respectively, but as a team Daniel Webster was limited to a .112 hitting percentage. Eagles setter Ariel Frias (Lawrence, Mass.) connected with Daniel Webster hitters for 20 assists.
Defensively for Endicott, junior libero Aaron Jessee (Okinawa, Japan) covered the court with eight digs while sporting a percentage serve-receive percentage on 21 attempts. Junior right side Josh Anderson (La Canada, Calif.) added seven digs and three total blocks while striking six kills in the win.
Endicott still has two regular season conference matches left on the schedule against Regis on Thursday, April 4th and against Newbury on Saturday, April 6th before a postseason tune-up match versus non-conference rival MIT Tuesday, April 9th. The NECC playoffs will be at two-event with semifinal and championship rounds occurring on Friday, April 12th and Saturday, April 13th.
