BEVERLY, Mass. — The Endicott men's volleyball team opens up its 2018 season this Friday, January 19 and Saturday, January 20 in a tournament hosted by St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York. Here's a quick look at the Gulls' upcoming season.
RETURNING CAST (ROSTER): Endicott brings back nearly 80-percent of its roster from a season ago including reigning New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Rookie of the Year and All-NECC first team selection Bryn Lipton (Rockford, Ill.).
From top to bottom in their lineup, the Gulls' returning cast - in addition to Lipton - will all make an impact in 2018. That group includes Jeremy Doski (Sandy Hook, Conn.), Adam Dake (Victor, N.Y.), Devin Racey (Voorheesville, N.Y.), Ryan Healy (Fair Lawn, N.J.), Matt Bozek (Exeter, N.H.), Donovan Dey (Fairport, N.Y.), Jacob Newman (Chester, N.H.), Seth Braquet (Destrehan, La.), Chad Riorden (Fairport, N.Y.), Troy Riorden (Fairport, N.Y.), who was an All-NECC second team honoree in 2017, Conner Holland (Derry, N.H.), and Tim Fieseler (Bridgewater, N.J.).
MARK YOUR CALENDAR (SCHEDULE): After opening their season this weekend, the Gulls' 2018 schedule will also be highlighted by matchups against the defending NCAA Division III champion and AVCA Preseason Coaches Poll favorite Springfield College (home, 3/28), No. 10 Wentworth (away, 2/1), No. 12 MIT (home, 3/7), No. 13 Hunter (away, 1/26), and Lasell (home, 2/8), who is receiving votes in the AVCA national poll.
PRESEASON PLAUDITS: Endicott was picked to finish first in the NECC preseason poll for the seventh straight season by receiving 36 points and six out of the seven first place votes. The Gulls enter their 2018 campaign in search of their sixth straight league title.
2017 YEAR IN REVIEW: Endicott posted a 21-11 overall record (12-0 NECC), and won its fifth straight conference title before falling to No. 7 nationally ranked Stevens, 3-1, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Gulls also secured their sixth 20-win season in program history, and made their fifth NCAA Tournament appearance.
In the classroom, Endicott also saw a program record five student-athletes earn NECC Academic All-Conference Team laurels in addition to picking up its first-ever AVCA Team Academic Award. The five student-athletes named to the NECC Academic All-Conference Team were Bozek, Dake, Healy, Newman, and Racey.
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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)
