Posted: Jan 19, 2016

Men's Volleyball Picked Fourth In NECC Preseason Poll

ATTLEBORO, Mass. – The Elms College Men's Volleyball team was voted fourth in the 2016 New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Men's Volleyball Coaches' Preseason Poll, announced by the league office. The Blazers collected 29 points to finish four points back for Newbury College, and nine points ahead of Daniel Webster College.

Head Coach Sheila Gisbrecht, entering her seventh season at the helm, and the Blazers are returning nine players from the injury-plagued 2015 squad, including four starters, who finished with a 5-20 overall record and a 2-10 mark in the NECC. The returning players accounted for 84% of team kills, 78% of team digs, 71% of team blocks and nearly 60% of team service aces. Sophomore Gabriel Reis Levy (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) led the Blazers in kills (186), digs (156) and block (39) as a freshman before missing the final four matches with an injury. Sophomore Daniel Bondarovsky (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) amassed 147 kills, 100 digs, and 28 blocks in only 17 matches, while sophomore Blake Fry (Natick, Mass.) added 70 kills and 103 digs. Elms is bringing back senior Angel Castro (Carolina, Puerto Rico) and junior Aaron Fogle (Queens Village, N.Y.), along with incoming freshman setter John Dunphy (Farmington, Conn.).

Endicott College tops the NECC Men's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll collecting 48 points including six first place selections. The Gulls look to continue their streak, as they have won three straight NECC titles since joining the conference in 2012. They return key contributors from their championship team, highlighted by the reigning NECC Men's Volleyball Player of the Year, senior outside hitter, John Osborne.

Regis looks to build on their 2015 season, as they fell to the Gulls in the Championship Match. The Pride have 12 returning players, including six starters. They return Brett Krahl, who was a standout rookie last season earning three NECC Rookie of the Week selections. Last season, the Pride were able to secure their first NECC playoff win. Regis collected the remaining first place vote for a total of 40 points.

Finishing third in the polls is Newbury College who will look to sophomore middle hitter, Wade Robidoux, who was named to the 2015 NECC All Conference First Team. The Nighthawks finished with 33 total points in the poll.

Landing fourth on the poll is Elms College with a total of 29 points. The Blazers will look to their four returning starters to improve on last years' season.

Daniel Webster College (20), Southern Vermont College (14), and Lesley University (12) round out the 2016 NECC Men's Volleyball Preseason Polls.

2016 NECC Men's Volleyball Preseason Coaches' Poll