Men's Volleyball Ousted in NCAA First Round

NEWARK, N.J. - The Endicott men's volleyball team ended their 2015 season with a loss in the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Tournament First Round as the Gulls lost 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 25-20) to #13 Rutgers-Newark. Endicott ends their year with a 17-12 overall record after winning their third straight NECC title with automatic bids into the NCAA Tournament.

Junior middle Daniel Toth (Vernon, N.J.) paced the Gulls with 10 kills on a .643 hitting percentage and blocked two swings at the net to lead Endicott. Junior outside hitter and the NECC Player of the Year John Osborne (Freehold, N.J.) added eight kills while both junior outside Dan Seaver (Milford, Mass.) and sophomore middle Ryan Sutherland (Fairport, N.Y.) had six kills apiece. Sutherland added two blocks while Seaver had one.

Junior setter Cameron Little (San Diego, Calif.) wrapped up his solid campaign with 32 assists, three digs, and two blocks. Little also had two blocks and a service ace.

Defensively, senior captain Kristian Catalan (Sudbury, Mass.) led the Blue and Green with 12 digs while Osborne added eight digs. Junior defensive specialist Chandler Tayek (Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.) and freshman defensive specialist Troy Riorden (Fairport, N.Y.) had seven and five digs, respectively.

Rutgers-Newark showcased three attackers with double digit kills and a setter in junior Kevin McCandless (Leesburg, Va.) that distributed 38 assists. Sophomore middle Nick Kuti (Macungie, Pa.) sported a .393 hitting percentage with a match-high 13 kills. Junior middle Cody Chidsey (Bath, Pa.) and junior opposite Travis Mintzer (Emmaus, Pa.) struck 11 and 10 kills, respectively, in the win.

The Scarlet Raiders also got help defensively from junior libero Quocmy Nguyen (Wescosville, Pa.) who totaled 10 digs as well as Mintzer who had nine digs.

Rutgers-Newark moves on to face Springfield in the NCAA Quarterfinals hosted by Stevens in Hoboken, N.J.