INTERACTIVE BRACKET | PRINTABLE BRACKET | SELECTION SHOW | NCAA RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The University of New Haven volleyball team returns to the NCAA Division II Championship for the 11th-straight season, earning one of eight bids from the East Region after winning its fifth Northeast-10 Conference Championship. The Chargers, who enter the national tournament as the third seed, will face sixth seeded Philadelphia University in the East Region Quarterfinals on Thursday, December 1. The eight-team, East Region Championship will be hosted by the second-seeded Daemen College Wildcats starting on Thursday, Dec. 1 and concluding on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Winners of its last five matches, the Chargers advance to the national tournament for the 31st time in program history and the 21st time under head coach Robin Salters. Leading the Blue and Gold to its fifth NE-10 title was sophomore Kristine Rios (Miami, Fla./Coral Reef) who was named the Championship Most Outstanding Player, finishing with a triple double in all three matches of the tournament. Rios is currently second on the team with 243 kills, an average of 2.48 per set, and second defensively with 344 digs. She also leads New Haven with 522 assists, one of two leading setters in a 6-2 offense.
New Haven and Philadelphia will meet for the first time this season in the regional quarterfinals. The Rams are coming off of their first ever Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship, defeating Caldwell in straight sets in Saturday's title match. Overall, Philadelphia enters the national tournament with a 29-4 overall record, including an 18-1 record in CACC play. For the season, the Rams are led by sophomore outside hitter Courtney Wensel who has amassed 452 kills, averaging 3.86 per set.
The quarterfinal winner between New Haven and Philadelphia will meet the winner of second seeded Daemen and seventh seeded Post University in the East Region semifinal round on Friday, December 2. The region championship match will take place on Saturday, December 3.
The other half of the bracket features first seeded NYIT against eighth seeded Adelphi and fourth seeded American International versus fifth seeded Le Moyne.
Additional information, including match times, for the East Region Championship will be posted on NewHavenChargers.com as it becomes available.
2016 NCAA Division II East Region Championship
Quarterfinals - Thursday, December 1 - at Daemen (Amherst, N.Y.)
Match 1 :: #1 NYIT vs. #8 Adelphi
Match 2 :: #4 American International vs. #5 Le Moyne
Match 3 :: #2 Daemen vs. #7 Post
Match 4 :: #3 New Haven vs. #6 Philadelphia Univ.
Semifinals - Friday, December 2 - at Daemen (Amherst, N.Y.)
Match 5 :: Winner Match 1 vs. Winner Match 2
Match 6 :: Winner Match 3 vs. Winner Match 4
Championship - Saturday, December 3 - at Daemen (Amherst, N.Y.)
Match 7 :: Winner Match 5 vs. Winner Match 6
