ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Junior outside hitter John Osborne (Freehold, N.J.) helped the Endicott men's volleyball team start their conference schedule with a 2-0 mark, capturing straight set victories over Regis and Elms, and in the process earned NECC Player of the Week honors.
Osborne averaged a stunning 5.67 kills with 2.50 digs per set, hit .491 on the week, and nearly broke both personal and program records for his individual performance against Regis. His efforts helped the Gulls put an abrupt halt to an early-season losing skid as the team now sits at 3-6 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
In the team's NECC opener at Regis, a hard-fought 25-23, 25-22, 26-24 win over the Pride Osborne tied his career-high of 20 kills and nearly matched a six-year old program record set by former two-time All-American AJ Witkofsky '10. Witkofsky struck 21 kills in a three-set win over Wentworth in 2009. Osborne hit .643 against Regis on Tuesday, recording his 20 kills on 28 swings with just two attack errors. He added six digs, three set assists, and three block assists.
Two days later in Endicott's 2015 home opener against Elms, Osborne once again fueled his team's attack with 14 kills on a .333 hitting percentage with nine digs while setting a new career-best with four set assists. Endicott won the match 25-18, 25-18, 25-18 to start the two-time defense of the NECC title unblemished in league play.
Endicott will look to make it three-straight wins when they host NECC rival Newbury (2-5, 1-0 NECC) on Wednesday, February 18th at 7:00 p.m. The Gulls travel to conference opponent Lesley on Friday night for an 8:00 p.m. first serve.
