DUDLEY, Mass. (4/11/2026) – The Nichols College men's volleyball team is set to face No. 1 Endicott College on Sunday, April 12th in the New England Volleyball Conference (NEVC) Championship. The matchup follows a dominant semifinal round in which both teams swept their opponents in straight sets, with Endicott defeating No. 4 SUNY Potsdam and Nichols taking down No. 3 SUNY Polytechnic Institute.
Due to its dominant conference play, Endicott earned hosting rights for the championship, with first serve scheduled for 1:00 PM inside MacDonald Gymnasium.
The Bison enter Sunday's matchup in pursuit of their fourth consecutive NEVC Championship. Nichols advanced after another decisive win over SUNY Poly, a team they have now beaten eight straight times, including six sweeps during that stretch.
Quick Hits:
- Endicott features the NEVC Player of the Year, Aidan Iacovelli, and Defensive Player of the Year, libero Dan Battista, along with three First Team selections.
- The Gulls hold a 21-3 overall record (7-0 NEVC), with all three losses coming against nationally ranked opponents.
- Endicott led the conference in both kills per set (12.64) and assists per set (11.81).
- Historically, Nichols trails the all-time series 4-11, though two of those wins have come in NEVC Championship matches.
- The Bison boast the conference leaders in assists and digs in Evan Sachs and Cade Bernardi.
- Each time Nichols has defeated SUNY Poly in the semifinals, they have gone on to win the NEVC Championship—including last season's 3-1 victory over Endicott.
Last Championship Meeting:
In the 2025 NEVC Final, Nichols captured its third consecutive title with a 3-1 victory over Endicott. Current head coach
Jack Normandin led the charge with 17 kills, while
Evan Sachs dished out 18 assists and libero
Cade Bernardi added a team-high nine digs.
Bradyn Pomainville and
Adam Vincent each contributed three kills in the win.
With a championship streak on the line and a familiar rival standing in their way, the Bison will look to rise to the moment once again and solidify their dominance atop the NEVC.
