Nichols Tops 2024 Preseason Coaches Poll

Nichols Tops 2024 Preseason Coaches Poll
January 5, 2024

MANSFIELD, Mass. – For the first time in program history, Nichols College was voted into the top spot of the New England Volleyball Conference (NEVC) Preseason Coaches Poll. Nichols compiled 48 points, along with six first place votes, following a year in which they finished with their program’s best overall record of 22-8, landed in the top-15 of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coaches poll, and won their first league title. Nichols is led by third-year head coach Casey Fitzpatrick and will return two All-Region players from a season ago, Tanner Soracco (Oxford, Conn.) and Carlos Mercado (Barranquitas, P.R.). 2022 New England Collegiate Conference Rookie of the Year, Dylan Knapp (Wethersfield, Conn.). will also return for the Bison.

Endicott College collected two first place votes and 44 total points to land in second place. The Gulls have competed in eleven-straight championship matches under head coach George Chapell.  The Gulls will return an experienced squad, including Mason Mallory (Playa del Rey, Calif.) and Dean Warner (Kinderhook, N.Y.), who each earned all-conference accolades in 2023.

Coming in the third spot with 34 points is SUNY Potsdam. Head coach Josh Stokes returns to the sidelines for the Bears, who set a program record for wins in 2023, and picked up their first playoff victory.  The Bears return several key players from last season, including Duncan Tenhagen (Buffalo, N.Y.), and Sean Murray (Grand Island, N.Y.), who earned a spot on the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Sportsmanship team in 2023.  

Eastern Nazarene College nabbed the fourth spot with 31 points. Led by first-year head coach Andy Mather, Eastern Nazarene returns eight veterans for the 2024 campaign. The Lions posted an 18-13 overall record last season and finished with a 6-2 league mark.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute lands in the fifth spot with 24 points. The Wildcats will be under new leadership as head coach Daniel Short begins his first year in 2024. Junior Jason Aubrey (Clifton Park, N.Y.) will return for the Wildcats after leading Poly in kills last season.

Russell Sage College ranks sixth in the poll with 19 points. The Gators, led by third-year head coach Reid Hartl,will welcome back libero Jack McWilliam (Fishkill, N.Y.) who led Sage in digs pers set in 2023.

Bard College slides into the seventh spot with 13 points. Head Coach Tyler Zowaski will be entering his second season at the helm for Bard. Bard returns six players from his 2023 season, including outside hitter Angel Obergh (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic), who led the Raptors in kills last season.

Northern Vermont-Johnson rounds out the 2024 NEVC Men’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll with 10 points. Head Coach Dongping Fang returns for his fourth season, after leading his squad to their first playoff appearance in 2023.  

The NEVC Men’s Volleyball Champion will be crowned on Saturday, April 13.

2024 NEVC Men’s Volleyball Preseason Coaches Poll

  1. Nichols– 48 (6)   
  2. Endicott – 44 (2)
  3. SUNY Potsdam- 34
  4. Eastern Nazarene- 31
  5. SUNY Poly- 24
  6. Sage- 19
  7. Bard- 13
  8. Northern Vermont- Johnson- 16