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Men's Volleyball Tabbed Fifth in Pre-Season Poll
The Newbury College men's volleyball team will be out to defend their title in 2012. Winners of the last two New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championships, the Nighthawks look to surprise the rest of the conference after being selected to finish fifth in the NECC Coaches Pre-season Poll, announced Tuesday morning.
"We have a lot of new faces on the team, but plenty of talent and potential for another successful season," Head Coach Stephen Keller notes. "All of our new players have been working hard and the team as a whole has already gelled nicely. We are capable and determined to win yet another NECC title."
Captains Chris Chin (Brockton, Mass.) and Alex Amylon (Scituate, R.I.) return for their senior and junior years, respectively, and will provide a tremendous amount of leadership to a young but talented Nighthawk squad. Chin, an outside hitter, has amassed 155 kills and 23 total blocks in his three seasons while Amylon has provided outstanding defense for the Nighthawks over the last two seasons, tallying 224 digs as well as 204 set assists.
Newcomer to the conference, Endicott College was unanimously tabbed to finish atop the NECC standings with seven first place votes and 49 overall. The Gulls return five starters from a team that went 14-2 last season the Northeast Collegiate Volleyball Association (NECVA) New England division.
This season will mark the first season of NECC sponsored men's volleyball. The NECC tournament champion receives auto bid to first ever NCAA Division III men's volleyball championship.
2012 NECC Men's Volleyball Coaches Poll
1. Endicott - 49 (7)
2. Elms - 39
3. Southern Vermont - 30
4. Daniel Webster - 27
5. Newbury - 26
6. Regis - 13
7. Lesley - 12
