DANBURY, Conn. - Endicott outside hitter John Osborne (Freehold, N.J.) averaged 3.86 kills and 3.29 digs per set and led the Gulls to 1-1 record in a five-set loss to #11 MIT and sweep of conference rival Elms as the junior earned NECC Player of the Week honors for the second time this season.
Osborne continued his push as one of the NECC's top offensive weapons with 27 kills on 56 attempts and a .304 hitting percentage in Endicott's two matches this week. Osborne now ranks first in the NECC in kills per set (3.65), third in overall kills (135), and second in kills in conference-only matches (60). Defensively, he has registered 2.49 digs per set, 92 total digs, 0.43 blocks per set, and 16 total blocks.
In Endicott's first match of the week, a showdown with #11 MIT, Osborne helped the Gulls rebound from first and second set losses to force a deciding fifth-set with the Engineers. Osborne would finish with 16 kills on a .163 hitting percentage but it was his performance in the third and fourth sets that fueled Endicott's comeback. In the third set, Osborne recorded four kills, two aces, and five digs and in the fourth turned in a 7-1-12 line with six digs. He would set a new personal best with 20 digs against the Engineers.
Over the weekend at NECC rival Elms, Endicott swept the Blazers 25-15, 25-9, 25-21 behind an 11-kill total in just two sets played from Osborne. Osborne hit .769 overall with three digs and a solo block.
Osborne and the Endicott men's volleyball team return to action on Tuesday, March 3rd at home against NECC opponent Southern Vermont (10-4, 4-0 NECC). First serve is at 7:00 p.m. inside MacDonald Gymnasium.
