BEVERLY, Mass. — Eight members of the No. 11 nationally ranked Endicott men's volleyball program have claimed New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) postseason honors, as announced by the league office earlier today.
Bryn Lipton (Rockford, Ill.) and George Chapell '08 headlined the group as the duo received NECC Player of the Year and Coach of the Year accolades, respectively.
Lipton was also joined on the All-NECC First Team by Gabe DeBenedetto (Rockford, Ill.), Gabe Felicetti (Charlestown, R.I.), and Rafa Robert (San Juan, Puerto Rico), while Nikolas Kasprzak (Windham, N.H.) and Ian Smith (Elk Grove, Calif.) were named to the All-NECC Second Team.
Rounding out the list of highlights was Will Perry (San Mateo, Calif.) who was tabbed to the Del Malloy Sportsmanship Team for the second straight year.
BRYN LIPTON | GR. | OH
With today's announcement, Lipton became the first student-athlete in NECC men's volleyball history to garner three Player of the Year awards (2018, 2020, 2021) and five All-Conference First Team honors since sponsorship of the sport began in 2009.
Lipton's 2021 stats included 3.00 kills per set (K/S, 44th nationally), a .242 hitting percentage (90K-43E-194TA), 0.43 blocks per set (B/S), 0.60 service aces per set (SA/S), 1.57 digs per set (D/S), and 3.8 points per set (PTS/S, 34th nationally) in nine matches played this season.
Among his conference peers, Lipton ranked second in kills and points (115.0), third in K/S, service aces (18) and PTS/S, fourth in hitting percentage and SA/S, and 14th in D/S.
GABE DEBENEDETTO | SO. | S
In nine matches played this season, DeBenedetto led the NECC in assists (196) and assists per set (7.84, 33rd nationally).
DeBenedetto's play also aided Endicott in ranking first in the league in hitting percentage (.277, 17th nationally) and SA/S (9.50, 3rd nationally | 0.48 SA/S individually, 6th in NECC, 40th nationally) and second in K/S (10.79, 40th nationally).
This is DeBenedetto's first career postseason honor with the Gulls.
GABE FELICETTI | SR. | MB
Felicetti's 2021 state line included 2.24 K/S, a .354 hitting percentage, 0.59 B/S, 0.66 SA/S, 0.34 D/S, and 3.2 PTS/S.
The senior middle, who is now a two-time All-NECC First Team selection, ranks second in the league in hitting percentage (28th nationally), service aces (19), SA/S (13th nationally), block assists (16), total blocks (17), and BS/S (95th nationally).
He also is third in points (93.0), fourth in PTS/S (73rd nationally), fifth in kills (65), and sixth in K/S (109th nationally).
RAFA ROBERT | JR. | OH
In his first year with the Gulls, Robert was as good as advertised as the junior outside compiled 2.38 K/S, a .287 hitting percentage, 0.29 B/S, 0.25 SA/S, 0.96 D/S, and 2.8 PTS/S.
Robert's rankings this season include kills (57, 6th), K/S (5th, 84th nationally), hitting percentage (3rd, 53rd nationally), SA/S (13th), D/S (24th), B/S (16th), points (67.5, 6th), PTS/S (5th, 95th nationally).
NIKOLAS KASPRZAK | SO. | MB
Kasprzak put together a solid sophomore campaign for Endicott behind the following numbers: 1.32 K/S, .226 hitting percentage (5th NECC, 104th nationally), 0.56 B/S (5th NECC, 105th nationally), and 1.7 PTS/S.
Kasprzak is now a two-time All-NECC selection (first team/Rookie of the Year in 2020).
IAN SMITH | SO. | OH
In 10 matches played this season, Smith averaged 0.84 K/S, a .511 hitting percentage, 0.68 SA/S, 0.42 D/S, and 1.5 PTS/S.
Smith has been a dangerous weapon at the service line for the Gulls this year as the sophomore outside currently ranks 10th nationally in SA/S and first in the NECC in both service aces (21) and SA/S.
GEORGE CHAPELL '08 | HEAD COACH
Chapell is now the second head coach in NECC men's volleyball history to earn four Coach of the Year awards (2014, 2017, 2020, 2021).
Chapell earned his fourth career honor this season by guiding the Gulls to a 7-3 overall record and a 6-0 mark in league play, which was good enough to claim the number one seed in this week's upcoming NECC Tournament.
Chapell's squad has also been ranked as high as No. 8 nationally on three separate occasions in 2021.
WHAT'S NEXT
First-seeded Endicott (7-3, 6-0 NECC) will host No. 4 Nichols (1-7, 1-6 NECC) in the NECC Tournament Semifinals on Wednesday, April 7 at 7 PM.
For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
(Photo Credit - Nick Grace '20, photos taken pre-COVID)
