BEVERLY, Mass. — The No. 9 nationally ranked Endicott men’s volleyball team will play No. 7 nationally ranked Benedictine (Ill.) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia on Wednesday, April 21 at 7:30 PM (EST). Here’s a preview of Wednesday’s matchup.
FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Benedictine (13-3) has been ranked as high as No. 6 nationally on three different occasions this season, while the Gulls have reached the No. 8 spot three times as well.
- Endicott (9-3) is 1-0 all-time against the Eagles (W, 3-2 in Lisle, Ill. on 3/16/2017).
- Tonight’s match will mark the first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance for Benedictine since its men’s volleyball program was established in 2015.
- The Gulls will make their seventh NCAA Tournament appearance in program history today, the most of any program in the 12-team NCAA Tournament field.
- Benedictine enters the NCAA Tournament ranked inside the top-20 among all NCAA Division III programs in several categories including assists per set (19th, 11.05), blocks per set (11th, 2.173), hitting percentage (8th, .301), and kills per set (18th, 11.98). Meanwhile, Endicott ranks inside the top-30 in aces per set (4th, 3.02), hitting percentage (9th, .300), kills per set (28th, 11.22), and opponent hitting percentage (10th, .131).
WHAT’S NEXT
The winner between Endicott/Benedictine will play No. 12 nationally ranked Lancaster Bible on Thursday, April 22 in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinal round at 7:30 PM (EST) in Salem, Virginia. $website.include(“
