2016 Women's Volleyball Season Preview

2016 Women's Volleyball Season Preview

2016 Endicott Women's Volleyball Season Preview

BEVERLY, Mass. – Following a 2015 season in which the Gulls post 24 wins and claimed the first ECAC DIII New England title in program history, Endicott will look to return to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship for the first time since 2013.

Head coach Tim Byram, now entering his 17th year at the helm, brings in one of his biggest rosters in the history of the program as the Gulls return multiple starters while mixing in a talented group of first year student-athletes that will look to build on last year's championship run. Here is a quick preview of the upcoming season which sees the team open up on the road at the Brandeis Invitational on Friday, September 2 against Johnson & Wales (R.I.) and Rhode Island College.

RETURNING CAST (ROSTER): Lead by 2015 AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, ACVCA All-New England First Team, and CCC Player of the Year Tori McIntyre (San Diego, Calif.), the Gulls return 12 women from last year's roster. Returning All-CCC honorees also include Cydney Pierce (Carpinteria, Calif.) and Lauren Sheehan (Bainbridge Island, Wash.), both whom received Second Team nods in 2015.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS (SCHEDULE): The women open their season on the road for the two day Brandies Invitational on Friday and Saturday in Waltham, Mass. where they will take on Johnson & Wales, reigning GNAC Champions, and Rhode Island College before squaring off against Southern Maine and Smith on Saturday. The first matches at the Nest come the following week as the Gulls host North Shore rival Salem State on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. before hosting NESCAC foes Tufts and Bates on Friday night on the opening night of the MIT Invitational. CCC play also opens up at home in September as Endicott hosts the University of New England and Salve Regina on September 21 and 24, respectively  with Endicott's match against Salve Regina on September 24 being a part of Homecoming Weekend. The Gulls' Senior Day will take place on October 14 against Wesleyan at 5:00 p.m.

PRESEASON PLAUDITS (POLL): Endicott was picked to finish second in the CCC Preseason Poll after receiving 84 points including one first place vote.

2015 YEAR IN REVIEW: The Gulls finished their 2015 season with the ECAC DIII New England Championship and a 24-10 record overall that saw the team go 6-2 in CCC play. 

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