NECC CHAMPIONSHIP: Gulls Secure Three-Peat Over Nichols, 3-1

BEVERLY, Mass. — The Endicott men's volleyball team captured its third straight New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship on Saturday evening, defeating Nichols, 3-1, at MacDonald Gymnasium. The Gulls secured their third title in a row, and eighth overall in program history, behind set scores of 25-21, 23-25, 25-15, and 25-17.

Rafa Robert (San Juan, Puerto Rico) earned NECC Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors behind a match-high 15 kills (.310), four block assists, and three digs.

Gavin Emenaker (Newton, Mass.) dished out a match-high 32 assists (.438) alongside seven digs and a block assist to join Robert on the NECC All-Tournament Team.

Meanwhile, Ian Smith (Elk Grove, Calif.) contributed an all-around performance with eight kills, seven digs, a block assist, and a 31-for-33 showing (.939) on serve-receive.

As a team, the Gulls registered a season-high 15 blocks (one solo, 28 assisted) in the victory. 

Brady Mullens (Aurora, Colo.) notched seven blocks (one solo, six assisted), while Spencer Capps (Lake Bluff, Ill.) and Nikolas Kasprzak (Windham, N.H.) tallied seven block assists apiece.

The trio also combined for 15 kills respectively (5, 4, 6).

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• The Gulls completed their first three-peat since the 2013-15 seasons.
• Endicott has won the most NECC Championships in league history (2013-17, 2019-22 - excludes 2020 COVID season).
• The Gulls are 9-3 at home this season and 9-0 all-time against Nichols. 
• Endicott has only dropped two sets in the all-time series versus the Bison.
• Capps had a career-high nine digs today (five led to kills).
• The Gulls averaged at least three blocks in every set.
• Endicott nearly won set two after being down by as many as nine points (16-7).
• Eleven of Smith's 33 receptions correlated in putaways.

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott (18-6) has earned the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Tournament. First round action is scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 16. The Gulls will learn their postseason fate via the NCAA Selection Show on Monday, April 11 at 10 AM (EST) on NCAA.com. 

Nichols sees its 2022 season come to a close at 15-12 overall. 

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)