BEVERLY, Mass. – For the second time this season, freshman setter Tyler Bacon (Cypress, Calif.) was named New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Rookie of the Week after the Gulls posted a 4-1 overall record including two wins over conference opponents Daniel Webster and Elms in five sets each to remain undefeated in league play.
Bacon averaged 9.57 assists in 14 sets played this week and posted a season-high 54 helpers in a hard-fought 3-2 loss to Kean on day one of the Endicott March Mania Invitational, a tournament in which the Blue and Green scored three wins in four matches. Bacon also totaled 20 digs while contributing with a .391 attack percentage and nine kills, with zero errors, on the week.
In Endicott's first match of the week, the Gulls matched up against fellow unbeaten Daniel Webster on the road and Bacon's 39 assists helped spark a comeback down two sets to one. Bacon also delivered a clutch solo block in the fifth set against the Eagles to go along with six assists in the 15-12 deciding set win.
After a 1-1 record on day one of the invitational, including Bacon's standout effort against Kean, Endicott swept the competition on day two. In a straight set victory over Emmanuel, Bacon was efficient and led the Endicott attack to a .352 team hitting percentage and 41 individual assists.
Bacon now leads the conference with 522 total assists and ranks second with a 8.03 assists per set average.
The Gulls travel to Wisconsin to play in the Carthage/MSOE Invitational on March 16th-17th with matches against Carthage, Fontbonne, and Vassar and an opponent to be determined later.
