Women's Volleyball Picked to Finish Second In CCC Preseason Poll

Full Release From the Commonwealth Coast Conference

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.- Coming off of two straight runner-up finishes, Endicott is hoping that the 2012 season will see them get back on top in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC).  Endicott has been chosen to finish second in the preseason CCC coaches poll that was released Friday morning by the conference office and commissioner Gregg M. Kaye.

Following the voting, the point total has Endicott right on the heels of conference preseason favorite Roger Williams.  The Gulls garnered 74 points with three first place votes.  Roger Williams totaled 77 points with five first place votes.  Salve Regina has been picked to finish third with 59 points and the remaining first place vote.  Following close behind to round out the top five is the University of New England and Western New England, both who received 52 points.

2012 will be the 13^th season as head coach for Tim Byram and he is looking to bring the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) title back to Endicott after losing in the finals the past two seasons.  The Gulls have had success in the last decade, qualifying for postseason play for the last eight straight years with six seasons of 23+ wins and four conference titles.  The success has only made the team and their coach hungrier.

"As always for our program, the goal is to win the CCC title.  It's been a few years of not winning one and our group is anxious to get it back," says Byram.  "With the winning tradition that has been established in recent years, the players expect a lot from themselves.  We will have a lot of work to do early to develop as a cohesive unit with a large incoming class but I am very excited for the potential this year's group has." 

The team has been in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament for three straight seasons now after losing in the semifinals of the CCC Tournament in 2009 and then the finals in 2010 & 2011.  In 2011, the team was the #2 seed in the tournament.  The Gulls earned a bye in the first round and then handled Salve Regina 3-0 before eventually losing to Roger Williams 3-1 in a very closely contested match.  Following the RWU loss, Endicott advanced to the ECAC Tournament where they were awarded the #3 seed in the tournament.  In the opening round, the Gulls knocked off #6 seed Emmanuel 3-2 to set up a matchup with Plymouth State. Endicott fought hard but eventually fell 3-2.

The Gulls final record in 2011 was 16-16, 8-1 in conference play.  The double digit wins marks the 14^th straight year Endicott has finished with 10+ wins and Byram has accounted for the last 12.  His overall record at Endicott now stands at 240-180 (.571), with an in conference record of 90-18 (.833).

For the upcoming 2012 season, Endicott is bringing back two of the top three offensive leaders from last year's squad in senior Falyn Torelli and junior Callie Dolan, while also bringing back top defensive players Ashley Norley and Gillian Kucharski who are both seniors. 

Torelli, an outside hitter named to the All-CCC Honorable Mention team, accounted for 247 kills (2.13/s) and 227 digs (1.96/s) while playing in all of the team's 32 matches, while Dolan, a middle/outside, totaled 238 kills (2.00/s) and 66 total blocks (.55/s) while also playing in all 32 matches.  Sophomore middle/right side Hannah Dahlgren looks to build upon her solid freshman year campaign after registering 145 kills (1.21/s) and a team high 94 total blocks (0.78/s).

Libero Ashley Norley, who was also named a All-CCC Honorable Mention, recorded 561 digs (4.87/s) while only committing 54 receive errors in a season that saw her play in all 32 matches as well.  Defensive specialist Gillian Kucharski notched 260 digs of her own and looks to provide a defensive mindset when she is on the court.  The duo looks to anchor a solid defensive core that includes junior Carly Beers and sophomores Emily Gillich, Jessica Petrucci and Sierra Kenkel.   The group contributed a combined 252 digs as well.   

The incoming class of freshmen looks to compete for playing time right away with middles Mackenzie Guerre (Carlsbad HS, Solana Beach VBC) and Alexis Watts (Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego VBC) pushing hard to earn their court time.  Outside/right side Jacqueline Cone (Salem, NH, Latitude 42 VBC) is a capable offensive player who will challenge at both positions as well.  Staci Baird (Canyon Ridge HS, South Idaho VBC) brings a wealth of versatility to the program and is capable of playing outside/right side/middle and will push for her own time as well.  Setter Alexandra VandeMerkt (Riverside-Brookfield HS) is an athletic setter from Illinois that brings a strong court sense to the program that will help her compete with junior Carly Beers for setting duties.

The 2012 schedule sees Endicott again facing a stiff out of conference schedule.  Matches against national runner up Christopher Newport, Southwestern (TX), University of Chicago, Elmhurst and UMass Boston are key matches as they finished #2, tied 17, tied 17, #19 and #20 on the final national poll.  Nearly 20 of the team's matches come against programs that were ranked either regionally or nationally, with seven being against top 25 teams, and 10 of the top 15 in New England.  The Gulls eagerly await their September 15^th match against Roger Williams who has eliminated them two straight years in the finals.  Endicott hopes that this tough regular season schedule will help lead the team to post season success and a fifth conference championship.