WORCESTER, Mass. - Behind a strong offensive display, the Endicott women's volleyball team got the 2019 season underway on Saturday posting two wins to improve to 2-0 on the young season. The Gulls defeated Worcester State 3-0 in the opener, before taking down host WPI 3-1 in the final match of the day.

Leading the charge was sophomore Amanda Gilbert (Hopkinton, Mass.) who finished with 25 kills and a .396 average in the two matches, including a team-best 14 kills against WPI. Setter Zoey Gifford (Natick, Mass.), the reigning Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Player of the Year, finished with 83 assists and 18 digs on the day, posting a double-double of 35 assists and 12 digs against WSU, and 48 assists and six digs against WPI. Libero Mackenzie Kennedy (Andover, Mass.), the reigning CCC Libero of the Year, finished with 36 digs for an average of 5.14 digs/set to lead the defense.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORES

• This was the first ever meeting between Endicott and Worcester State. The Gulls recorded 44 kills and hit at a .297 clip while holding the Lancers to 27 kills and just a .096 average.
• Endicott is now 3-0 all-time against WPI. In the two previous meetings, the Gulls won both by 3-0 finals, first in 2013, and then again in 2017.
• Endicott held the edge offensively against WPI, closing with a 57-41 advantage in kills, and a .243-.226 advantage in hitting percentage.
• The win over WPI was number 381 for head coach Tim Byram, who is now in his 20th season at the helm of the Gulls.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott will next play on Tuesday night as the Gulls welcome the Engineers of MIT to the Nest to open up home play. First serve is set for 7:00 PM. Worcester State plays host to Rhode Island College on Tuesday at 7:00 PM, while WPI will travel to Wenham, Mass. to take on Gordon on Wednesday at 7:00 PM.

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)