BEVERLY, Mass. – Six members of the Endicott men's volleyball team have earned New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) postseason honors, as announced by the league office earlier today.
Nikolas Kasprzak (Windham, N.H.) highlighted the group by earning NECC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Kasprzak is the first student-athlete in NECC Men's Volleyball history to earn both awards in the same season since the league was established in the 2008-09 academic year.
Meanwhile, George Chapell '08 was named the NECC Coach of the Year for the fourth straight season and sixth time overall in his career (2020-23, 2017, 2014). His six NECC Coach of the Year awards are the most among any head coach in conference history.
The Gulls also saw Kasprzak, Gabe DeBenedetto (Rockford, Ill.), and Rafa Robert (San Juan, Puerto Rico) earn spots on the All-NECC First Team, while Mason Mallory (Playa del Rey, Calif.) and Dean Warner (Kinderhook, N.Y.) were selected to the All-NECC Second Team.
Along with his All-NECC Second Team honors, Warner was chosen to the Del Malloy Sportsmanship Team.
NIKOLAS KASPRZAK | GR. | MB
In 21 matches played this season, Kasprzak posted 2.34 kills per set (150 total), a .405 hitting percentage (14th nationally), and 0.84 blocks (54) for the Gulls.
His NECC ranks include the following categories/stats: kills (16th), kills per set (12th), hitting percentage (1st), solo blocks (7, 11th), block assists (47, 5th), total blocks (7th), blocks per set (3rd), points (191.5, 17th), points per set (3.0, 13th).
In conference-only play, Kasprzak ranked 12th in kills (46), 10th in kills per set (2.71), second in hitting percentage (.527), second in solo blocks (5), block assists (20), and total blocks (25), first in blocks per set (1.47), 13th in points (65.0), and sixth in points per set (3.8).
Kasprzak's list of NECC postseason awards now includes three All-NECC selections (two second team, one first team), 2020 Rookie of the Year accolades, two Defensive Player of the Year honors (2022-23), and the 2022 Senior Scholar-Athlete award.
GABE DEBENEDETTO | SR. | S
DeBenedetto averaged a conference-leading and career-high 9.81 assists per set (618) in 21 matches (63 sets) played this season. His 9.81 assists per set figure ranks eighth overall nationally among 100 setters in NCAA Division III.
DeBenedetto dished out 40 or more assists in five matches on the year, including a career-high 50 helpers against Illinois Tech on March 18.
In conference-only matches, DeBenedetto guided the Gulls to league-best marks in kills per set (12.04) and hitting percentage (.371). Endicott was the only program in the NECC to hit over .300 in league play this season.
RAFA ROBERT | SR. | OH
In 21 matches (59 sets) played this season, Robert averaged 3.22 kills per set (190, 37th nationally), a .218 hitting percentage, 1.39 digs (82), 0.44 blocks (26), 0.32 service aces (19), 222.5 points, and 3.8 points per set (44th nationally).
Robert's NECC ranks include the following categories/stats: kills (11th), kill per set (3rd), service aces (34th), service aces per set (26th), receptions (321, 15th), digs (32nd), digs per set (22nd), blocks (24th), points (12th), points per set (3rd).
Robert posted 10 or more kills in nine matches, including a season-high 16 in four matches.
MASON MALLORY | SR. | OPP/OH
Mallory compiled 2.33 kills per set (112), a .239 hitting percentage, 0.42 blocks (20), 0.50 service aces (24), 1.46 digs, 147.5 points, and 3.1 points per set.
His NECC ranks include the following categories/stats: kills (24th), kills per set (13th), hitting percentage (10th), service aces (8th), digs per set (18th), blocks (28th), points (26th), and points per set (11th).
Mallory also had 10 or more kills in five matches this season, highlighted by a season-high 14 putaways against Dominican on March 16.
DEAN WARNER | JR. | RS
In 14 matches played this season, Warner registered 2.57 kills per set (77), a .342 hitting percentage, 0.57 blocks, 0.20 service aces, 0.53 digs, 92.0 points, and 3.1 points per set.
Warner's NECC ranks include the following categories/stats: kills (35th), kills per set (9th), hitting percentage (4th), block assists (16, 31st), total blocks (17, 34th), points (43rd), points per set (12th).
He notched 10 or more kills in three matches on the year, including a career-high 13 on 18 swings (.667) against SUNY Poly on April 2.
GEORGE CHAPELL '08 | HEAD COACH
Chapell led the Gulls to the NECC regular season championship via a 13-9 overall record and 8-0 mark in conference matches.
Endicott shut out six of its eight opponents in league play and only dropped two sets.
As a team, the Gulls rank first in the NECC in kills (313), kills per set (12.04), hitting percentage (.371), assists (293), assists per set (11.27), block assists (84), total blocks (55), blocks per set (2.12), points (455.0), and points per set (17.5).
Chapell's career record at Endicott is 198-91 overall (.685) and 104-3 (.972) in conference play.
He has led the Gulls to eight NECC Championships (2013-17, 2019, 2021-22), while the program has never missed the finals under his guidance.
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(Photo Credit - Mazzie Hinsdale '26/David Le '10)
