NCAA MVB TOURNAMENT CENTRAL: Endicott Pod Preview

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BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott men's volleyball team is set to host a four-team NCAA Tournament pod this Friday and Saturday at MacDonald Gymnasium. Here's a preview of this weekend's NCAA Tournament matches.

TICKETS

$6 adults | $4 students/seniors | $3 children 12 and under | Children under three are free
(Endicott students who show their Gull Card (ID) are free)

THE MATCHUPS

Friday, April 19
No. 4 SUNY New Paltz vs. Baruch, 4 PM
(SUNY New Paltz leads the all-time series 12-2)

No. 8 Endicott vs. St. Joseph's (L.I.), 6:30 PM
(First-ever matchup between the two programs)

Saturday, April 20
Winner of Match One vs. Winner of Match Two, 6 PM

(National rankings are courtesy of the American Volleyball Coaches Association)

THE TEAMS

No. 4 SUNY New Paltz (24-7, Representing the UVC)
(Roster | Schedule | Statistics) 

Baruch (18-12, Representing the CUNYAC)
(Roster | Schedule | Statistics) 

No. 8 Endicott (25-6, Representing the NECC)
(Roster | Schedule | Statistics) 

St. Joseph's (L.I.) (25-6, Representing the Skyline)
(Roster | Schedule | Statistics) 

HOW THEY GOT HERE

No. 4 SUNY New Paltz: The State University of New York at New Paltz men's volleyball team (24-7, 8-1 UVC) won the United Volleyball Conference championship last Sunday against top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology (27-5, 8-1), automatically booking its spot in the NCAA Division III men's volleyball tournament. The Hawks (24-7 overall) put on an overall phenomenal display, demonstrating time and time again they were ready for any adversity coming their way, as they beat the Ducks (27-5) for the first time this season when it counted most, winning the championship, 3-1 (25-21, 26-24, 14-25, 27-25). "It feels amazing. All the hard work this team has put in together, the ups and downs we've experienced," said Hawks junior outside hitter Aaron Carrk. "We really feel like we finally rose to the occasion and got the job done." 

Baruch: The men's volleyball team won their first CUNYAC Title since 2015 by defeating the Hawks of Hunter College in five exciting sets last Friday night at the Hunter Sportsplex. Nicholas Godino was named the Championship MVP after he pounded out 16 kills against Hunter. 

No. 8 Endicott: The second-seeded Endicott men's volleyball team defeated first-seeded Elms, 3-1, by scores of 23-25, 25-21, 25-17, and 25-22 in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) championship match last Saturday evening to capture its sixth title in program history. Donovan Dey (Fairport, N.Y.) paced the Gulls with a match-high 18 kills on 37 swings (.324) to go along with seven digs and one block assist. For his efforts, Dey was named the NECC Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP).

St. Joseph's (L.I.): The St. Joseph's College men's volleyball team captured its second straight Skyline Conference Championship title with a 3-0 win over SUNY Purchase in the Danzi Center on Saturday afternoon. Junior Matt Amberge led the St. Joseph's attack with 14 kills while hitting at a .632 clip. For his efforts throughout the tournament, Amberge was named the Most Outstanding Player.

NATIONAL TEAM STATISTICS

No. 4 SUNY New Paltz: Aces per set (12th, 1.99), Assists per set (2nd, 12.06), Blocks per set (50th, 1.66), Digs per set (82nd, 8.71), Hitting percentage (11th, .280), Kills per set (2nd, 12.98), Opponent hitting percentage (36th, .171)

Baruch: Aces per set (36th, 1.61), Assists per set (46th, 10.23), Blocks per set (1st, 2.51), Digs per set (32nd, 10.29), Hitting percentage (30th, .236), Kills per set (44th, 11.07), Opponent hitting percentage (15th, .142)

No. 8 Endicott: Aces per set (6th, 2.34), Assists per set (14th, 11.39), Blocks per set (46th, 1.70), Digs per set (28th, 10.35), Hitting percentage (1st, .319), Kills per set (2nd, 10), Opponent hitting percentage (11th, .131)

St. Joseph's (L.I.): Aces per set (5th, 2.34), Assists per set (24th, 10.82), Blocks per set (68th, 1.38), Digs per set (27th, 10.35), Hitting percentage (23rd, .252), Kills per set (21st, 11.77), Opponent hitting percentage (1st, .101)

STUDENT-ATHLETES TO WATCH

No. 4 SUNY New Paltz: Matthew Grace (Holbrook, N.Y.) and Nick Smith (Massapequa, N.Y.) were named to the All-UVC First Team. Aaron Carrk (Delmar, N.Y.), Nick O'Malley (East Meadow, N.Y.), and Bradley Schneider (Lockport, N.Y.) were also placed on the All-UVC Second Team.

Baruch: Nicholas Godino (Plainview, N.Y.) and Meni Musheyev (Foreset Hills, N.Y.) received CUNYAC First Team All-Star honors, while Andrew Tsororos (Hauppauge, N.Y.) garnered CUNYAC Second Team All-Star accolades.

No. 8 Endicott: Ryan Healy (Fair Lawn, N.J.) was tabbed as the NECC Defensive Player Of The Year. Bryn Lipton (Rockford, ILL.), Dey, and Jeremy Doski (Sandy Hook, Conn.) were also on the NECC All-Conference First team. Meanwhile, Seth Braquet (Destrehan, La.) rounded out the list of honorees for the Gulls with NECC All-Conference Second team laurels. 

St. Joseph's (L.I.): Kyle Biggers (Holbrook, N.Y.) was named the Skyline Conference Player of the Year to go along with a selection to the Skyline All-Conference First Team. Biggers was also joined by Tyler Jones (Farmingville, N.Y.), Paul Curaro (Holbrook, N.Y.), and Will Flohr (Lindenhurst, N.Y.) on the Skyline All-Conference First Team. 

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(Photo Credit - NCAA.com)