At a glance
The ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ State volleyball team won the AMCC Championship 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-21) over Penn State Behrend. The victory clinches an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ State volleyball team won the AMCC Championship 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-21) over Penn State Behrend. The victory clinches an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
The Pioneers, the #1 seed in the tournament, complete AMCC play with a perfect 9-0 record. In matches at home the team was 13-0. The team is 21-6 overall and will become the first team in school history to play in the NCAA’s riding a sixteen-game winning streak.
After defeating Penn State Altoona in a thrilling five set match in yesterday's semifinal, the Pioneers came back today and were firing on all cylinders jumping out to a 16-8 lead in the first set. The Lions fought back and scored eight straight points to tie the first set up at 16-16. After an ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ State timeout, putting a halt to the Behrend run. The set continued to go back-and-forth before the Pioneers squeaked away with the 25-23 win.
The second set was neck-and-neck, with neither team gaining more than a two-point lead until the set was tied at 18-18. ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ State scored the next three points and took the lead 21-18 and never look back taking the set 25-19.
The final set was also close throughout. At 17-16 with the Pioneers ahead, ÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ State went on a run to take a 22-17 lead. Karleigh Haines’ (Jamestown, NY / Jamestown) delivered the championship point on a kill to officially crown the Pioneers AMCC Champions.
Video of championship point:
Another view of championship point:
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÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ State was led by Keturah Gregory (Laurel, MD / High Point) and Karleigh Haines who both had double-digit kills. Gregory led the way with 17 kills and 3 blocks. Haines had 15 kills. Nayomie Ferrer Santiago (San Juan, PR / Eastridge) tallied 36 assists and 10 digs and Adeline Milligan (Pavilion, NY / Pavilion) led the team in digs with 11.
Haines and Ferrer Santiago were named to the All-Tournament team.
÷ÈÓ°Ö±²¥ State now awaits the NCAA DIII selection show to find out where they will travel and who they match-up with. The official bracket will be released on Monday (11/7) at 1 p.m. on