SAINTS DROP FIRST NECVA MATCH TO GULLS
Feb. 27, 2008
Beverly, MA - The Endicott College men's volleyball team set a program record for blocks in a three-game match with 13 ½, while defeating Emmanuel College 3-0 in North East Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) action at the MacDonald Gymnasium on Wednesday night.
Both teams appeared equally matched in the opening of the first game, battling to a 5-5 score in the early going. Emmanuel would take advantage of several Endicott miscues to take a 9-6 lead, forcing the Gulls to use their first timeout. Endicott fought back, eventually evening the score at 13-all after a strong kill by senior A.J. Witkofsky (Scotia, NY). The Gulls then got hot, using an ace from senior Jeremy Hamel (Industry, ME) and a block from Witkofsky to build a 17-13 lead. After an Emmanuel timeout, Endicott picked up where they left off, scoring five of the next seven points while increasing their lead to 22-15. Emmanuel was able to close the gap to 23-19 behind the strong play of freshman outside hitter Curtis Abram (San Luis Obispo, CA), who had two kills and an ace during the Saints 4-1 run. After an ace by senior opposite Brendan Ellis (Chelmsford, MA) cut the lead to 25-23, Endicott was forced to take their second timeout of the game. The two teams would exchange points the rest of the way, and after another kill by Witkofsky the Gulls took the first game, 30-28.
Endicott came out strong in the second game, immediately grabbing a 4-0 lead. The Saints rallied back, and after a strong kill by freshman Cameron Todd (Los Angeles, CA), they closed the gap to 9-7. After a rash of miscues by the Saints, the Gulls were able to take a 16-11 advantage and force an Emmanuel timeout. Out of the break, the Gulls won four of the next five points, grabbing a 20-12 lead after back-to-back blocks by Witkofsky and sophomore John Emery (Westford, MA). The lead would swell to 22-12, before another Emmanuel timeout. From there, Endicott cruised to take the second game, 30-17.
Both teams exchanged points to start the third game, competing heavily to a 5-5 score. The Gulls used a kill from freshman Zeke Kubisch (Bethlehem, NY) and consecutive blocks from sophomore James Silva (Monroe, CT) and John Emery to grab an 11-8 lead. The Saints wouldn't go away, fighting to even the score at 12-all while forcing several Endicott errors. The score remained dead-locked midway through the third game at 15-all, as both teams struggled to gain control. After the Gulls had taken a three point lead, the Saints evened the score behind the strong jump-serving of sophomore Michael Towsend (Beaverdam, VA), and eventually took the lead at 21-20. Endicott immediately regained the lead, as freshman Jordan Durant (Honolulu, HI) scored the next two points, following up a kill with a stifling block to make the score 22-21. With the score tied at 24, the Gulls finally managed to take control by going on a 6-1 run to close out the third and final game, 30-25.
The Saints were paced by Abram and Ellis, who had a team-high 10 kills apiece in the effort. Endicott was led by Witkofsky's match-high 15 kills and eight blocks. Junior Dan Coleman (Millis, MA) led the team with 17 digs, while Durant also chipped in with 11 kills in the win.
This was the first conference loss of the year for the Saints, dropping them to 5-1 in the NECVA and 10-11 overall. Endicott improved to 5-2 in the NECVA and 9-7 overall. The Saints will return to action on Tuesday night, when they travel to Nashua, NH to take on the Raiders of Rivier College in a 7pm start.