2017 WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL SEASON PREVIEW
BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott women's volleyball team is slated to open its 2017 season this Friday when they travel to Springfield, Mass. to compete in the Springfield Invitational. Here is a preview of what lies ahead for the Gulls.
PRESEASON PLAUDITS: Coming off a Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) title in 2016, Endicott was selected to repeat in 2017 in the CCC preseason poll. The Gulls received six of 10 first place votes. Under head coach Tim Byram, who is entering his 18th season as head coach at Endicott, the women have claimed five CCC titles, while producing a 339-255 (.571) record overall.
SCHEDULE: Holding true to form, Byram has assembled another challenging schedule in 2017 as he looks to have the team prepared for a deep post season run. In addition to opening the season at the Springfield Invitational, the team will also compete in the MIT Invitational and will travel to Dallas to compete in the University of Dallas Invitational.
Outside of invitational play, the women will see a majority of their non-conference matches take place in the friendly confines of the MacDonald Gymnasium. Endicott will play host to seven non-conference teams, which include Springfield (9/8, 6 PM), UMass Boston (9/28, 6 PM), WPI and Tufts (10/14, 12 & 2 PM) while their travel is highlighted by a tri-match at Babson with Plymouth St. (9/7, 1 & 3 PM)
For the full women's volleyball schedule, click here: 2017 Endicott Women's Volleyball Schedule
RETURNING CAST: Endicott will be led a trio of captains for the campaign in Lauren Sheehan (Bainbridge Island, Wash.), Cydney Pierce (Carpinteria, Calif.), and Mareena Clotfelter (Poulsbo, Wash.). Those three highlight 13 returning letter winners in total from 2016's championship squad which include three All-CCC honorees in Clotfelter, Sheehan, and Zoey Gifford (Natick, Mass.).
YEAR IN REVIEW: The Gulls finished the 2016 campaign with a 22-12 record overall, and a perfect 9-0 mark in conference play. The season ended in the NCAA DIII Tournament.
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