NCAA TOURNAMENT: Endicott To Host No. 7 Stevens In First Round On Saturday At 1 PM

MEN'S VOLLEYBALL NCAA TOURNAMENT BRACKET 

BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott men's volleyball team (21-10) will host No. 7 nationally ranked Stevens (29-5) this Saturday, April 22 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at 1 PM. Ticket prices for Saturday's match will be $6.00 for adults, and $4.00 seniors/students.

HOW TO WATCH

For fans who are not able to attend Saturday's NCAA Tournament match viewing options include www.ecgulls.tv (video) and Facebook LIVE. Live stats will also be available for Saturday's match.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Endicott defeated Elms in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Tournament championship match last Saturday, 3-0, by scores of 25-18, 25-21, and 28-26 to claim its fifth straight conference title and the league's automatic bye into the NCAA Tournament. 

Meanwhile, No. 3 nationally ranked Stevens fell to No. 2 New York University in the United Volleyball Conference (UVC) Tournament semifinals, 3-2, by scores of 22-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-18, and 15-11. The Ducks' full-season body of work, which included a 10-match winning streak from January 20 to February 11 and another 12-match winning streak from February 22 to March 25, earned them an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. 

THE MATCHUP

Endicott and No. 7 Stevens have already met once this season back on February 4, 2017 (BOX SCORE | RECAP). The Gulls fell to Stevens, 3-2, in a tightly-contested match by scores of 25-16, 23-25, 23-25, 25-16 and 15-10. Overall in the all-time series, Stevens is 11-0 versus Endicott dating back to April 5, 2003.

NEED TO KNOW

ENDICOTT: The Gulls currently rank in the top-25 nationally in six categories including aces per set (No. 18, 1.84), assists per set (No. 25, 10.73), hitting percentage (No. 16, .249), kills per set (No. 24, 11.66), match won-loss percentage (No. 17, .677), and opponent hitting percentage (No. 18, .154). Endicott is also positioned No. 30 in blocks per set (1.86), and No. 45 in digs per set (9.50). 

Individually, Endicott is led by NECC Rookie of the Year and All-Conference first team selection Bryn Lipton (Rockford, Ill.). The freshman outside ranks in the top-20 in several conference categories most notably in the following areas: second in kills (305), third in kills per set (3.14), seventh in hitting percentage (.236), ninth in service aces (31), 17th in service aces per set (0.32), 12th in digs (145), 18th in digs per set (1.49), and 10th in blocks (38, nine solo, 29 assisted).

The Gulls' lineup will also feature NECC All-Conference first team honoree Daniel Toth (Glenwood, N.J.). The senior middle enters Saturday as the 2017 NECC Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) and a three-time All-NECC first team selection. This season, Toth has posted 188 kills (2.00 k/s), a .405 hitting percentage, 42 digs, and 87 total blocks (0.93 b/s, 16 solo, 71 assisted) for the Gulls this season in 94 sets played. Toth paced the conference in three out of the four blocking categories (block assists, blocks total, blocks per set), and also ranked No. 8 in kills/No. 13 in kills per set, and No. 2 in hitting percentage. Nationally, Toth is situated No. 12 in hitting percentage, and No. 21 in blocks per set. 

NO. 7 STEVENS: The Ducks' attack features four student-athletes who average 2.45 kills per set or better including team-leader David Lehman (Oakland, Calif.) and his 3.25 k/s. Gabe Shakweiler (Allentown, Pa.) is second (3.03), while Mitch Brooks (Orinda, Calif.) is third (2.50) and Dylan DeBoer (Vernon Hills, Ill.) is fourth (2.46). 

Nationally speaking, Stevens is No. 11 in kills per set (12.16), No. 4 in hitting percentage (0.306), No. 6 in blocks per set (2.29), and No. 16 in opponent hitting percentage (.151).

WHAT'S NEXT

The winner of Saturday's match will play No. 6 Dominican (Ill.) in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals on Friday, April 28 in Springfield, Massachusetts.

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