BEVERLY, Mass. (4/12/2026) – The Nichols College men's volleyball team saw its bid for a fourth straight NEVC Championship come to an end on Sunday afternoon, falling to top-seeded Endicott in straight sets (25-20, 25-20, 25-14) inside MacDonald Gymnasium.
Leading the way for the Bison was Bryce Bonville, who recorded a team-high seven kills, while Adam Vincent added six and Bradyn Pomainville chipped in five on a .250 hitting percentage. Setter Evan Sachs orchestrated the offense with 20 assists while also making an impact defensively with 11 digs. At the net, Connor Snow led the way with two solo blocks and one assist, while Pomainville contributed to three block assists. Bonville and Austin Gavin each added two blocks as well. Libero Cade Bernardi anchored the back row with a match-high 12 digs.
The match opened with high intensity as both the Bison and Gulls came out trading points early in the first set. The Gulls were the first to gain momentum, using a short run to create early separation, but the Bison responded behind the arm of Bonville, who delivered multiple key kills to keep Nichols within reach. Vincent added support from the outside, while Pomainville chipped in with efficient swings to stabilize the offense. Despite the Bison's efforts, Endicott continued to apply pressure from the service line and at the net, forcing Nichols to play from behind late in the set. A late push, highlighted by a block from Snow and strong defensive efforts from Bernardi, brought Nichols within striking distance, but the Gulls held on to take the opening set 20-25.
In the second set, the Bison looked to regroup and establish their rhythm early. Sachs began to settle into the offense, distributing effectively and getting Vincent and Bonville involved in key moments. Nichols kept the score tight through the early portion of the frame, with Bernardi anchoring the back row and extending rallies with crucial digs. However, Endicott once again used a mid-set surge to create separation, capitalizing on a few Bison miscues and maintaining consistent offensive pressure. Snow and Pomainville made their presence known at the net with timely blocks, but the Gulls continued to control the tempo, taking the second set and putting Nichols in a 2-0 deficit, once again 20-25.
Facing elimination in the third, the Bison showed resilience and energy, battling point-for-point with Endicott through much of the set. Bonville and Vincent continued to lead the offensive charge, while Sachs kept the offense balanced and composed under pressure. Nichols found momentum midway through the frame, stringing together a small run fueled by strong serving and improved defensive execution. Bernardi once again came up big in the back row, keeping rallies alive and giving the Bison opportunities to score. Despite the late push and a pair of key blocks from Snow and Gavin that brought Nichols within reach, Endicott responded in the closing moments, using a final run to seal the set and secure the NEVC Championship, 14-25.
With the loss, Nichols closes the season at 15-15 (5-2 NEVC), while Endicott secures the NEVC title, finishing a perfect 7-0 in conference play
