BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott men's volleyball team opens up its 2016 season this Friday and Saturday (weather permitting) at the Johnson & Wales University (JWU) Tip-Off. Here's a quick look at the Gulls' 2016 season.
PRESEASON PLAUDITS: Endicott was tabbed as the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) men's volleyball preseason favorite for the fifth straight season. The Gulls enter the 2016 campaign as the three-time NECC defending champions.
SCHEDULE: Endicott is scheduled to open the JWU Tip-Off on Friday against No. 1 nationally ranked Springfield at 4 p.m. and No. 8 nationally ranked Rutgers-Newark at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the Gulls will wrap up tournament play with a 9 a.m. match against Lasell and an 11 a.m. match versus host JWU.
Endicott and Lasell both enter next weekend's JWU Tip-Off receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Top-15 preseason poll alongside Springfield and Rutgers-Newark's national rankings.
Endicott's home schedule will also include eight matches against the following teams: Emerson (1/26, 7 PM), Wentworth (2/3, 7 PM), Southern Vermont (2/11, 7 PM), Daniel Webster (2/18, 7 PM), Elms (3/1, 7 PM), Newbury (3/5, 12 PM), Regis (3/7, 7 PM), and Lesley (3/22, 7 PM). Other notable road matches this season include Lasell (2/6), Springfield (2/20), Stevenson (2/20), and Rivier (2/7).
RETURNING CAST: The Gulls return NECC Player of the Year John Osborne (Freehold, N.J.) and fellow NECC All-Conference selections Daniel Toth (Glenwood, N.J.) and Ryan Sutherland (Fairport, N.Y.) to the fold this season. The senior class will include Osborne, setter Cameron Little (San Diego, Calif.), outside hitters Dan Seaver (Milford, Mass.) and Chandler Tayek (Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.) and middle Alex Wasik (Milford, Mass.).
YEAR IN REVIEW: Endicott captured its third straight NECC title in 2015 en route to an appearance in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Gulls completed the season with a 17-12 record overall and 12-0 mark in the conference.
