DUDLEY, Mass. (4/11/2025) – The stage is set for the top-seeded Nichols College men's volleyball team to face No. 4 seeded SUNY Polytechnic Institute in the NEVC Semifinal for the second straight year, with the match scheduled for 4:00 PM at the Nichols Athletic Center Saturday.
All time, the Bison are 5-0 against the Wildcats. 2025 also marks the second straight year the Bison have locked up the top seed in the conference tournament, with them in the hunt for their third consecutive NEVC title. The winner of the Nichols and SUNY Poly matchup will advance to the NEVC Championship Sunday at 1:00 PM, and will face the winner of No. 3 Endicott College and No. 2 SUNY Potsdam.
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How The Bison Got Here: Nichols wrapped up the regular season with a 17-14 overall record, which included a perfect 6-0 record in conference play. The Bison also never yielded a set to any conference opponents this year, winning each match in straight sets. Nichols frequently battled against ranked opponents throughout the campaign, and earned a 3-0 sweep against No. 17 Lasell University back on February 28
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The Opponent: SUNY Polytechnic Institute enters the tournament with a 19-13 overall record, and a 3-3 mark against conference opponents. Nichols and SUNY Poly met on one occasion this regular season, where the Bison swept the visiting Wildcats in straight sets, 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 25-23).
The two teams also crossed paths in last year's semifinal round, where the Wildcats were the only NEVC team to take a point from the Bison, losing the match 3-1 (25-16, 22-25, 25-12, 25-12).
Who to Watch: Nichols' enters Saturday's semifinal with three All-NEVC First Teamers leading the way. Graduate student outside hitter
Jack Normandin fronts the offensive push with 272 kills and 35 service aces on the season, both of which lead the team, in addition to 182 digs, 37 assists and 24 blocks. On the right side of the net is classmate
Tanner Soracco, who finished his own campaign with 262 kills on a .244 attack percentage, alongside 188 digs, 48 assists, 45 blocks, and 22 aces. Soracco's digs total also ranked him third in amongst all NEVC players.
Senior middle blocker
Dylan Knapp was one of the conference's top hitters this season, connecting for 212 kills on a .316 clip on the season. Knapp was also a contributer in all other spots on the coats, compiling a stat line of 70 digs, 22 assists, and a conference-best 73 blocks at the net.
Other Bison notables to watch is assists leader
Chandler Olson, a graduate student setter, and sophomore libero
Cade Bernardi.
2025 NEVC Championship Tournament
Semifinals - Saturday, April 12th
Match 1: No. 4 SUNY Polytechnic Institute at No. 1 Nichols College – 4:00 PM
Match 2: No. 3 Endicott College vs No. 2 SUNY Potsdam – 7:00 PM
Championship – Sunday, April 13th
Winner of Match 1 vs Winner of Match 2 – 1:00 PM
