BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott senior outside hitter Rafa Robert (San Juan, Puerto Rico) has earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-America second team honors, as announced by the organization earlier today.
Robert is now the fifth student-athlete in program history to receive AVCA All-America accolades.
Robert is joined on the list by some elite company including 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 averaged 3.45 kills per set, a .350 hitting percentage, 0.49 serve aces per set, and 1.33 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 (300, 4th), kills per set (4th), hitting percentage (2nd), service aces (43, 3rd), service aces per set (3rd), points (359.0, 4th), and points per set (4.1, 3rd).
Nationally, Robert ranks top-50 in hitting percentage (36th), points per set (36th), kills per set (43rd), and aces per set (35th).
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 and 10 or more digs in four contests this season.
YEAR IN REVIEW
Endicott went 18-7 overall and 6-0 in NECC play. The Gulls defeated Nichols, 3-1, in the NECC Championship to capture their league-best eighth title (third in a row) before falling to No. 4 nationally ranked Stevens, 3-0, in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
(Photo Credit - Chris Lyons '22)
