Box Score

BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott senior and reigning NECVA New England Player of the Week \#A.J. Witkofsky\# (Scotia, N.Y.) posted 31 kills as the Gulls outlasted Harvard University, 3-2, in non-conference men’s volleyball action on Friday evening in Beverly, Mass. Endicott used set scores of 45-47, 30-19, 30-21, 23-30 and 15-8 to secure its fifth straight win.

The two sides engaged in a wild opening set, as the Gulls and the Crimson battled to an eventual 47-45 Harvard victory. Harvard’s Erik Kuld (Toronto, Ontario) paced the visitors with nine kills in the opening game.

The second set belonged to the Gulls as \#Zeke Kubisch\# (Bethlehem, N.Y.) and Witkofsky combined for 13 of Endicott’s 19 second-set kills, as the Blue and Green cruised to a 30-19 win that featured a .342 team hitting percentage. Endicott carried the momentum into the game’s third set, a frame that yielded a 30-21 Gull victory. Witkofsky had nine kills on 13 swings with just one error while also contributing a block.

Harvard responded with a 30-23 win in game No. 4, aided by a well-rounded attack that saw four Crimson notch at least three kills in the frame. Matt Jones (La Jolla, Calif.) led the way with five of Harvard’s 17 kills.

Endicott leaped out to an insurmountable 8-2 advantage in the fifth game, a lead that eventually blossomed into a 15-8 victory. Witkofsky was once again outstanding, propelling the Gulls to victory with seven of Endicott’s nine kills in the deciding game.

Witkofsky finished the night with 31 kills, a mark that is tied for second in program history. The senior also notched 19 digs and eight blocks. \#Ben Foster\# (Penfield, N.Y.) posted 65 assists (tied for fifth highest) and 14 digs. \#Zeke Kubisch\# had 17 kills and eight digs while \#John Emery\# (Westford, Mass.) finished up with 11 kills.

Erik Kuld led the Crimson with 18 kills while Matt Jones had 15 kills, 12 digs and seven blocks. Nicola Ivica (Pancevo, Serbia) had 12 kills and swung at a strong .320 clip in the setback. Rob Lothman (Glendale, Mo.) handed out 55 assists in the losing effort.

Endicott (5-2, 2-0 NECVA) returns to work on Tuesday when the Gulls host Regis College. Harvard (0-3, 0-0 EIVA) takes on Baruch on Thursday evening.