UNION, N.J. – The Endicott men's volleyball team opened up its 2017 season against No. 10 nationally ranked Kean University and Cairn University in the Kean Winter Classic on Thursday evening. The Gulls fell to host Kean by a 3-0 score (25-23, 25-18, 25-13), but bounced back versus Cairn, 3-0, by scores of 25-12, 25-21, and 25-20.
MATCH ONE: No. 10 Kean 3, Endicott 0 (25-23, 25-18, 25-13)
Trailing 23-22 in set one, Kean junior outside hitter Jacob Kauffman (York, Pa.) sparked a 3-0 run for the Cougars with a kill and a service ace to help clinch a 25-23 victory over the Gulls, and seize all momentum in the match the rest of the way. Set one alone featured seven tie scores and three lead changes, while the entire match showcased 17 tie scores and six lead changes.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Endicott is receiving votes in the latest American Volleyball Coaches' Association (AVCA) national poll
- Bryn Lipton (Rockford, Ill.) led the Gulls in kills with seven in his first collegiate match. Lipton also had two service aces, three digs, and two block assists.
- Jeremy Doski (Sandy Hook, Conn.) added five kills (personal best in a season opener), while Daniel Toth (Glenwood, N.J.) chipped in with four.
- Defensively, Ryan Healy (Fair Lawn, N.J.) paced both teams with 13 digs (personal best in a season opener).
- Chad Riorden (Fairport, N.Y.) and Devin Racey (Voorheesville, N.Y.) tied for the team-high in assists with eight apiece.
FOR THE FOES
- Kauffman notched a match-high 12 kills (.320 hitting percentage) to go along with four digs, three service aces, and two block assists.
- Jared Warner (York, Pa.) compiled 10 kills on 12 error less swings (.833), while Ian Capp (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) dished out a match-high 35 assists.
MATCH TWO: Endicott 3, Cairn 0 (25-12, 25-21, 25-20)
Endicott only trailed twice in the entire match en route to its first victory of the 2017 season.
Lipton guided the Gulls' attack with 11 kills on 20 swings (.400), while Toth notched seven putaways on nine attempts (.667) to aid the offense. Troy Riorden (Fairport, N.Y.) also collected six kills, and Tim Fieseler (Bridgewater, N.J.) pitched in five.
Meanwhile, Racey and Riorden shared duties running the offense together in match two as the duo compiled 15 and 11 assists, respectively.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- Healy had 12 digs to extend his double-digit streak in that stat column to five straight matches (dating back to last season).
- Today's match versus Cairn was the first-ever meeting against the Highlanders.
FOR THE FOES
- Micah Godshall (Souderton, Pa.) registered a team-high eight kills.
- Andy Willits (Hatfield, Pa.) and Joston Wolgemuth (Elizabethtown, Pa.) both had five kills apiece.
- Matthew Gump (Kutztown, Pa.) tallied a match-high 23 assists, while Ryan Ludvik (Norfolk, Va.) notched 13 digs.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (1-1) takes on Hunter tomorrow morning in its final match of the Kean Winter Classic at 11 AM. For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
