DUDLEY, Mass. – Senior Ray Wang picked up 16 kills and three service aces to propel the Nichols College men's volleyball team into the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Championship match with a 3-2 win over Eastern Nazarene College in the conference semifinals Thursday night at the Nichols Athletic Center.

Sophomore Tanner Soracco added 14 kills and senior Collin Hunter racked up 10 kills and five blocks as the Bison (15-11) advanced to the finals for the first time in program history by winning a five-set thriller 26-24, 14-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-13. Nichols (15-11) will travel to Beverly, Mass. this Saturday to take on the top-seeded Endicott Gulls at 3 p.m. at MacDonald Gymnasium.

Sophomore Nick Martin handed out 45 assists – his ninth 40+ assist effort of the season – while freshman and NECC Rookie of the Year Dylan Knapp racked up five kills and five blocks. Nichols posted a .252 hitting pct. as a team behind Knapp's .625 and Hunter's .304.

Alejandro Garcia Fernandez recorded 30 kills on 65 attempts to lead the Lions (14-13).