BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott senior outside hitter Rafa Robert (San Juan, Puerto Rico) has received American Volleyball Coaches Organization (AVCA) All-Region honors, as announced by the organization earlier today.
This is Robert's first career All-Region award and the program's 10th overall since 2008. Robert was one of 14 student-athletes selected to the AVCA Northeast All-Region Team and the only representative from the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC).
With today's announcement, Robert is now eligible for AVCA All-America honors, which will be announced later this month.
If selected, Robert would become the fifth student-athlete in program history to garner AVCA All-America accolades joining elite company in two-time honorees Dan Coleman '09 (Millis, Mass.) and Jeremy Fontaine '05 (Belchertown, Mass.), three-time honoree Bryn Lipton '20 M'21 (Rockford, Ill.) and Endicott Hall of Famer A.J. Witkofsky '10 (Scotia, N.Y.).
Robert was instrumental to this year's NECC Championship run as the senior outside enters NCAA Tournament play this weekend (4/15, 6:30 PM) averaging 3.48 kills per set, a .370 hitting percentage, 0.49 serve aces per set, and 1.31 digs per set in 24 matches played.
The 2022 NECC Championship Most Valuable Player (MVP) and All-Conference First Team selection ranks top-10 in the league in kills (292, 4th), kills per set (4th), hitting percentage (2nd), service aces (41, 3rd), service aces per set (3rd), points (349.0, 4th), and points per set (4.2, 3rd).
Nationally, Robert ranks top-50 in hitting percentage (27th), points per set (34), kills per set (38th), and aces per set (37th).
Robert's other highlights this season include a career-high 28 kills against Wentworth on March 22, a career-high 11 digs in two matches (2/23, 3/19), and two double-doubles.
Robert also has compiled 10 or more kills in 17 matches this season, including an active streak of 10 straight that dates back to 3/15. The Gulls are 8-2 overall during that span with Robert averaging 4.15 kills per set and a .372 hitting percentage.
The last two matches during the 8-2 run include Robert posting 3.25 kills per set and a .308 hitting percentage en route to his 2022 NECC Tournament MVP honors.
WHAT'S NEXT
Endicott (18-6) will travel to No. 4 nationally ranked Stevens (28-3) on Friday, April 15 for an NCAA Tournament First Round matchup at 6:30 PM. The Ducks are 15-0 at home this season. Information regarding ticket prices, live stats, and video links will be released later this week on www.ecgulls.com.
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(Photo Credit - Leanna Puccio '24)
